Rhamnus prinoides bearing fruit

Rhamnus prinoides bears edible fruit, much sought after by fruit eating birds. The ripe fruits on slender stalks are red to purple or black and about spherical to ovoid.

Diverse uses in traditional medicine have been recorded for the leaves and roots. Some ascribed magical properties relating to beliefs concerning lightning, house protection, hunting and more also brought plant parts into various practices in rural communities.

Planting of this species in gardens and parks is growing, sometimes to provide hedges. It is grown from seed, the plants fairly frost resistant (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Pooley, 1993).