Fruit drop may occur any time during the summer but is more common in late May or June. Fruit drop at this time is common because the fruit that was not completely pollinated will often drop before it develops very much. Fruit drop later in the season usually results from some type of damage to the fruit like apple maggots, coddling moth, plum curculio, damage from disease like scab or powdery mildew or from mechanical damage like hail. There is no real treatment at this point other than to do a better job of preventing damage next season. We have received lots of samples of this commonly found shrub this year.
Many homeowners confuse the form with a crab apple.
The twigs also end in a small thorn. Apparently it was a good year for fruit production and lots of would-be jam and jelly makers are wondering if the fruit is safe to eat and use. Consequently, buckthorn seedlings are frequent weeds in many yards. Usually the first areas to color are in Roberts County and the upper elevations of the Black Hills. The brilliance of the display is dependent on the fall weather conditions.