How Do You Identify Rhamus & California Native Plants?
In California, you may find yourself encountering interesting plant species while hiking through a forest, exploring a public garden or even on a walk through your own neighborhood. During these chance meetings, you may want to name these plants so that you can determine whether the botanical is poisonous like the rhamus (common buckthorn), or figure out whether you can successfully grow the species in your own landscape. By noting a few key characteristics, you can accurately identify the rhamus and other California native plants. Use a camera to photograph plants that you come across outdoors and bring a notebook so that you can sketch the designs of the native plants. Pay special attention while in a particularly wooded area like a forest, or on a trip through a grassland section because the rhamus plant or redmaid flower may be inhabitants of these areas. Write down details like whether the plant is growing fruit and/or producing flowers. The rhamus produces small, 1/4-inch black b
