Rhamnella is a deciduous tree or shrub in the buckthorn family growing to a mature height of 20 to 25 feet and native to China, Korea, and Japan. In its native environment, it can be found growing on slopes and along roadsides. It is in flower from May to June, and the fruit (seeds) ripens from August to October. The fruit changes color as it ripens to a dark purple/black when it is fully ripe. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). It grows well in full sun or partial shade and in a range of soil types, but prefers moist soils with good drainage. This is a hardy plant with show-stopping, clear gold fall leaf color. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist
Mature size
Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Glossy, highly textured green leaves in summer, turning to gold in the fall. Elliptic in shape, 5 inches long and 2 inches wide with lateral veins. The base is rounded and the leaf margin serrulate.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme; Insignificant
Flower shape
Wheel
Flower detail
Six to eight yellow-green flowered cyme. Sepals are triangular-ovate, sparsely hairy at the margin. Petals are broadly obovate.