Hippophae rhamnoides Pollmix

The 'Pollmix' Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a male variety, serving as a good pollinator. This thorny shrub with fast growth thrives in ordinary or poor soils. Plant it as an informal hedge, a defensive hedge, or in isolation. Ideally plant it in autumn. Pair it with the 'Leikora' female variety for fruit production.

The sea buckthorn produces small round or oval berries, orange in colour and with a tangy flavour. Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, these sea buckthorn berries are consumed in the form of jams, syrups, or jellies. They are also used in cosmetics as oil, extracted from the seeds and pulp.

The flowers, very small and green in colour, appear in April before the foliage. Apart from a few self-fertile varieties, sea buckthorn either bears male flowers or female flowers (dioecious plant). Fruiting then requires having a plant of the opposite sex, knowing that a male plant can pollinate three to five female plants. The berries will be produced on the female bushes from the 2^nd or 3^rd year. The 'Pollmix' variety is a male plant and serves as a good pollinator.

Sea buckthorn, different from the strawberry tree, is found in mountainous areas as well as on coastal dunes, helping to combat soil erosion. It is a bushy and thorny shrub with fast growth, reaching a height of 3 to 5 metres (9 feet 10 inches to 16 feet 5 inches). Its dense root system has the particularity of fixing nitrogen in the soil. Its deciduous leaves are narrow and elongated, dark green on top and silver-grey underneath. It is a very hardy shrub, able to withstand temperatures down to -30°C and also tolerant of drought. In the garden, sea buckthorn can be planted in an informal hedge, a defensive hedge, or in isolation. It will bring a decorative aspect with its orange fruits, present throughout the winter.