Frangula rubra subsp. modocensis

Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Modoc buckthorn is a California native shrub found in the northern California Mountains and Modoc Plateau in montane forest and sagebrush steppe at elevations of 1,000 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces small white to cream-colored flowers clustered on short shoots. Growing with multiple stems that feature distinctive gray twigs, it forms a compact shrub up to 2 to 3 meters tall. Its leaves are clustered tightly on short branches, with narrow elliptic blades 15 to 40 millimeters long, glabrous or slightly hairy along the midrib and veins. The leaves have an acute base and a pointed tip, providing a delicate texture to the shrub's overall appearance.

Habitat: Montane forest, sagebrush steppe

Bloom period: Apr-Jun

Elevation: 1000-2200 m

Bioregions: CaR, MP.

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.