Scientific Name:
Frangula purshiana
Pronunciation:
FRANG-gew-luh pur-shee-AY-nuh
Common Name:
cascara
Family Name:
Rhamnaceae
Plant Type:
Tree - deciduous
Key ID Features:
Deciduous tree; leaves alternate, most blades oblong, 7-14cm long x 4-6cm wide, margins mostly entire, major veins parallel and prominent (but indented on upper surface), dull, olive-green; Winter ID: twigs and buds with rust-coloured velvety pubescence; buds with no scales, 2-3mm long; terminal buds may look like rust-coloured praying hands, 6-12mm long; bark looks like snake skin.
Habit:
Open, Spreading, Upright
Form:
Oval - vertical
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
10 - 15m
Mature Spread:
5 - 7m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
B.C. west of Cascades, U.S. - northwest
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 7: (-18 to -12 °C)
Exposure:
Part sun/part shade, Filtered shade, Deep shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Acidic, Humus rich, Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Attract birds, Fall interest, Forestry, Herb, Screening, Shade tree, Wetland - bogs, Wildlife food
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Heavily veined, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Rugose
Colour in Summer:
Dark-green
Colour in Fall:
Green-yellow, Yellow, Dark-red
Shapes:
Oblong
Apices:
Obtuse
Bases:
Rounded
Margins:
Entire
Additional Info:
Spectacular fall colour
Inflorescence Type:
Flowers clustered, Floriferous
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Campanulate
Colour (petals):
Not showy, Green-yellow
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
May, Jun
Additional Info:
Inflorescence is an umbrella shaped cluster
Fruit Type:
Drupe
Fruit Colour:
Purple, Black
Fruiting Time:
Aug, Sep
Additional Info:
Showy
Bark Morphology:
Showy, Smooth, Prominent lenticels, Multi-stem trunk
Bark or Stem Colour:
Grey
Leaf Bud Type:
Accessory (collateral) (Distinctive smell)
Leaf Scar Shape:
Round
Propagation:
Seed, Cuttings
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Crown rot, Fungal leaf spot, Rust
Course(s):
- HORT 2355
- Level 4 Apprenticeship
Location(s):
- (FSC) Far South Campus
- (QRR) Quercus Robur Row planting
- (TFL) Turf Field Lab
- (TFLE) Turf Field Lab East
- (WLG) WoodLand Garden