Hippophae rhamnoides - 60-80 cm

Hippophae rhamnoides – Sea Buckthorn

Hippophae rhamnoides, commonly known as sea buckthorn, is a strong, hardy shrub that is particularly well suited to natural gardens, wildlife-friendly hedges and dry, sandy or poor soils. It is easily recognised by its narrow, silvery-grey leaves, thorny branches and, on female plants, masses of bright orange berries in autumn.

Sea buckthorn naturally occurs in coastal areas, dunes and open sandy habitats. It tolerates wind, drought and poor soils exceptionally well, making it an excellent choice for difficult planting conditions. The species is native to large parts of Europe and Asia.

Bright orange berries

After its inconspicuous yellow-green flowers in spring, female plants produce numerous bright orange berries from late summer into autumn. They often remain on the branches for a long time, creating a striking splash of colour when many other plants have already lost their leaves.

The berries are particularly rich in vitamin C and can be used to make juice, syrup, jams and other preparations. Their flavour is distinctly sharp and acidic.

Male and female plants

Sea buckthorn is dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers occur on separate plants. Only female plants produce berries, but they require pollination from a male plant.

For a good harvest, plant at least one male plant near several female plants. A single male plant can pollinate several females. It is therefore important to check whether you are buying a male or female plant.

Excellent for wildlife

Sea buckthorn is an excellent choice for a natural and wildlife-friendly garden. Its flowers are useful to insects, while the berries provide food for birds. Its dense, thorny growth also offers shelter for birds and other small animals.

The plant is also well adapted to relatively nutrient-poor soils and is associated with nitrogen fixation, making it particularly suitable for sandy and dry soils.

Position and soil

Plant Hippophae rhamnoides in full sun. A sunny position encourages strong growth and good fruit production on female plants.

Sea buckthorn is undemanding and performs particularly well in light, dry to moderately moist, well-drained sandy soil. It tolerates poor soils but dislikes permanently wet conditions. The RHS lists full sun, sandy or loamy soils and neutral to alkaline conditions among its preferred growing conditions.

Pruning

Sea buckthorn can grow into a large shrub or small tree. Regular pruning can be used to keep the plant more compact and encourage rejuvenation. Take care when pruning because the branches are strongly thorny.

Older plants can be rejuvenated by removing some of the oldest branches at the base. Sea buckthorn can also produce suckers and may spread under favourable conditions.

Key features

🌿 Strong, hardy native shrub
🧡 Abundant bright orange berries on female plants
🐦 Valuable food source for birds
🐝 Flowers useful to insects
☀️ Excellent for sunny, dry locations
🏖️ Ideal for sandy and coastal gardens
🌱 Tolerates poor soils
💨 Highly tolerant of wind
🍊 Vitamin-C-rich berries suitable for processing
🌿 Excellent for natural hedges and wildlife gardens

Plant type: deciduous shrub / small tree
Height: approx. 4–8 m
Width: approx. 4–8 m
Flowering: April–May
Flowers: yellow-green and inconspicuous
Fruit: bright orange berries on female plants
Foliage: narrow, silvery-grey
Position: full sun
Soil: light, sandy and well drained
pH: neutral to alkaline
Moisture: dry to moderately moist, but well drained
Hardiness: very hardy
Special feature: dioecious – male and female plants are needed for fruit production
Native: yes, in parts of Europe; naturally associated with coastal and sandy habitats