Description

Sea Buckthorn

The Sea Buckthorn also known as Hippophae rhamnoides is a deciduous seaside hedging plant. Distantly related to Elaeagnus the plants share a lot of traits, including the ability to thrive in seaside locations, with strong salty winds.

The Sea Buckthorn however, unlike the Elaeagnus is extremely hardy, being able to cope with temperatures of up to -43 due to its extensive root system. Again, this helps the Sea Buckthorn thrive in exposed Locations.

The Sea Buckthorn is well known for its colourful bright orange berries that have been used for generations for medicinal purposes but are now commonly used in health products including skincare products and shampoo. The plant also makes small yellow flowers prior to its orange berries which are popular with pollinators, the berries are also popular with seaside birds.

The Sea Buckthorn is a slow growing shrub taking up to 50 years to reach its full height of 8m, this makes the plant ideal for maintaining as a hedgerow. The Sea buckthorn, as its name signifies has thorny shoots, making it ideal for an intruder proof hedge on the coast.

The Sea buckthorn prefers well-draining soil due to its deep root system; this includes sandy and loamy soils.

The recommended planting density varies depending on the height of the plants you buy for example:

Small – 15-90cm: It is recommended that you plant 3-5 plants per meter

Medium – 90-150cm: It is recommended that you plant 2-3 plants per meter

Large – 150-300cm: It is recommended that you plant 1-2 plants per meter