Hippophae rhamnoides

Hippophae rhamnoides, or Sea Buckthorn, is a tall thorny shrub with rapid cold and salt-resistant growth. Female plants bear highly decorative orange berries. Edible and with numerous medicinal properties, their tart taste is appreciated in jams, jellies, or syrups. Sea Buckthorn thrives in ordinary or poor soils, with good drainage. It is also perfect for creating dense and impassable defensive hedges. It is ideally planted in autumn for harvesting from September.

Sea Buckthorn is found in both mountainous areas and coastal dunes, helping to combat soil erosion. It belongs to the Elaeagnaceae family. It is a bushy and thorny shrub with rapid growth, reaching 3 m to 5 m (9.8 ft to 16.4 ft) in all directions. Its dense root system has the ability to fix nitrogen in the soil. Its deciduous leaves are narrow and elongated, dark green on top and silvery grey underneath. It is a very hardy shrub, able to withstand up to -30° C (-22° F) and also tolerant to drought. Sea Buckthorn bears either male or female flowers (dioecious). The small green flowers, arranged in clusters, appear in April before the foliage. Fruiting requires having a plant of the opposite sex; one male plant can pollinate three to five female plants. The round to oval berries are a vibrant orange colour, and are produced on female bushes from the 2nd or 3rd year. They persist on the bush throughout winter and provide a valuable food source for birds. 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, in the form of oil extracted from the seeds and pulp.

A blessing for uncultivated or even rocky soils, sea buckthorn brings a touch of lushness and colour to neglected gardens and abandoned boundaries, while perfectly playing its role as a defender. Perfect for creating defensive hedges, it will draw attention especially in autumn and winter with its abundant colourful fruiting, while shielding the garden from prying eyes and sheltering many small garden-friendly animals. Let it grow freely, in the distance, at the corner of a slightly sad building, or at the edge of a natural grove; it will be spectacular in these conditions, either in flowers or fruits. In a hedge, mix it with other varieties to play with different fruit colours, but also with other shrubs such as Cotoneaster, Holly, Eleagnus, deciduous or evergreen Spindle Trees, Brooms, and Bay Laurel.