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Products > Rhamnus alaternus 'Variegata'
 
Rhamnus alaternus 'Variegata' - Variegated Buckthorn
   
Image of Rhamnus alaternus 'Variegata'
[2nd Image]
Habit and Cultural Information
Category: Shrub
Family: Rhamnaceae (Buckthorns)
Origin: Portugal (Europe)
Evergreen: Yes
Variegated Foliage: Yes
Flower Color: Greenish White
Bloomtime: Spring
Synonyms: [Rhamnus alaternus 'Argenteo-variegata']
Height: 15-20 feet
Width: 8-10 feet
Exposure: Sun or Shade
Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs
Winter Hardiness: <15° F
Rhamnus alaternus 'Variegata' (Variegated Buckthorn) - As with the species, Rhamnus alaternus, this cultivar is a good upright growing evergreen shrub for a hedge or screening. This selection seems to grow more compact than the species, probably only reaching to 8 to 12 feet tall, and has foliage that is variegated with cream-white broad bands along the leaf margins. Winter to spring-blooming with red buds opening to display small greenish-yellow flowers, which produce only a few fruits.

Plant in full sun to part shade, where once established it is very tolerant of heat and drought and is cold hardy to 10° F with reports that it has tolerated temperatures as low as 7° F. A very useful and showy plant for hedges that go in and out of shade and full sun as it is tolerant of both with its nice foliage for useful in the vase, making it a very popular plant in the cut flower industry.

We have grown this plant since 1997 using this name but have also more recently seen it being listed by others as Rhamnus alaternus 'Argenteo-variegata' or 'Argenteovariegata' and it was under this latter name that it received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1993. For more information on the species, see < href="plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=1345" target="_blank"> Rhamnus alaternus. We have an extremely attractive large specimen of this plant along the back fence of the nursery. 

Information displayed on this page about Rhamnus alaternus 'Variegata' is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.

 
San Marcos Growers closed for regular business at the end of 2025 as the property is being developed for affordable housing.
While our gates remain closed, we will open them by appointment so we can liquidate remaining plants, supplies and equipment. The plants remaining in the field are listed on our Live Inventory Page.