Sea buckthorn

Description

Sea buckthorn

Latin: Hippophae rhamnoides

Height: up to 20 feet

Hardiness zone: 2

Spread: canopy spread up to 12 feet

Sun exposure: full sun

Root system: aggressive, suckers

Growth rate: Moderate

Lifespan : short

Plug material

This shrub has thin Silvery green leaves with some thorns. The roots distribute rapidly and extensively, providing a nonleguminous nitrogen fixing role in surrounding soils.

It prefers clay loam soils but is widely adaptable, but does not like dry conditions. No notable pests or diseases. Flowers in May. Harvest fruit mid August.

Sea buckthorn may be used as a landscaping shrub with an aggressive basal shoot system used for barrier hedges and windbreaks, and to stabilize riverbanks and steep slopes.

They are about the most nutritious and the vitamin rich of all berries; high in antioxidants, vitamin C, tocopherols, carotenes and flavonoids. Although the berries are astringent and sour, besides juice, sea buckthorn fruit can be used to make pies, wine, jams and lotions to name a few. Berries are retained on the stems throughout winter providing winter interest.

You will receive both male and female plants, but numbers of each are not guaranteed.