COMMON NAME
SCIENTIFIC NAME
ALSO KNOWN AS
Coffeeberry, Frangula californica
Plant family
Buckthorn (Rhamnaceae)
Plant group
Deciduous Trees and Shrubs
Find California buckthorn in oak woodland and chaparral habitats west of the Sierra Nevada in California. It can also be found in southwest Oregon and is naturalized on the island of Hawai’i.
California buckthorn is often called coffeeberry because its berries (fruits) contain two nut-like seeds that look like coffee beans. After a fire or other disturbance such as cutting that removes the above ground stems, etc., the plants sprouts vigorously from buds on the root crown. Individual plants can live 100 to 200 years.