Carolina Buckthorn is a native shrub or small tree that is especially conspicuous along Arboretum Drive, the Backwoods Trail, and the Crossroads Trail. It is found throughout the Southeast and ranges as far north as New York and as far west as Texas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. This shrub is typically 10-15 ft tall, but may grow up to 20-30 ft.

Its shiny green leaves (2-5 in. long) are somewhat paler below with prominent, parallel veins that curve a short distance along the margins. The small fuzzy brown buds are distinctive and have been described as being naked (i.e., do not have numerous bud scales). Carolina Buckthorn bears inconspicuous greenish-white flowers in May and June. The round, berry-like fruits (drupes) are initially red in August but turn dark blue to black in the fall. A variety of song birds feast on these sweet juicy fruits. Although Carolina Buckthorn has no thorns, its common name reflects the fact that many members of the genus Rhamnus have thorny twigs.

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