I'm trying to source Italian Buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus) on Vancouver Island. It's zoned 7-9, a deer resistant (?) evergreen shrub, recommended for hedging and grows to 10-20' tall. It produces blue, bird friendly berries. I've spoken to Marigold Nursery in Victoria and Art Knapp, River Meadows and Anderton Nurseries in the Comox Valley but they say their suppliers don't carry it. Is anyone familiar with Italian Buckthorn? If so, would it grow in Comox and could anyone point me to a supplier, preferrably on Vancouver Island?
Used for screening at some publicly accessible locations in Seattle, where it has produced a regionally unique appearance. Stocked off and on by some independent garden centers here. However, if it does not happen to be on the market up there you will then have to identify other ways to get it. Or use something else, maybe Myrica californica.
One thing to watch for, with non-native plants, "bird friendly berries" can soon equate to "invasive weed" as the seeds are spread far and wide in bird droppings - and particularly so if deer won't touch the resulting seedlings.
Have not seen or heard of any local occurrences of this species spreading from cultivation. No mention of it in the very thorough Jacobson, Wild Plants of Greater Seattle - Second Edition (2008).
Thanks Ron and Michael. The Wax Myrtle is worth a try if I can source it. I'll try anything I can source for a mixed deer resistant screen. The Italian buckthorn may not be too invasive up here if I can't even source it. I don't expect to give up until I discover something beyond laurels, bamboo and leylandei.
Streamside Native Plants, on the old island highway near Bowser, has (or can get) Wax Myrtle...I've bought them there myself in the past. Ceanothus is usually left alone by deer as well...even in gardens I know where the deer eat near everything else.
We truly cherish the deer even though they ate our ceanothus. Thanks for the tip about Streamside Nursery. I'll give them a call. Over by Kye Bay, we've lost almost all our deer, eg. we've sighted a deer on site 3 times in 2 months. Does anyone have any to send our way ;-)
