Sea buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides
Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a deciduous perennial fruit plant in the Elaeagnaceae family, native to Europe and temperate Asia (coasts and dry river valleys). It grows 2–4 m (6.6–13 ft) tall and 2–4 m (6.6–13 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -40 °C (-40 °F). Space plants about 2.5 m (8.2 ft) apart.
Plan Sea buckthorn in your garden →
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Sea buckthorn at a glance
| Type | Perennial fruit plant, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Elaeagnaceae |
| Mature height | 2–4 m (6.6–13 ft) |
| Mature spread | 2–4 m (6.6–13 ft) |
| Spacing | 2.5 m (8.2 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 8 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 6–8.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -40 °C (-40 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 3) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 35 °C (95 °F) |
| Flowering | from about April for 1–2 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | High |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Yes: berries (juice) |
| Native to | Europe and temperate Asia (coasts and dry river valleys) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇨🇳 China |
Is Sea buckthorn toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not well documented
- Dogs: not well documented
Berries are edible; the very thorny branches can injure.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Sea buckthorn
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
Shared pests and diseases
- Verticillium wilt: Verticillium lives in soil for years; hosts planted together or in sequence build it up. Evidence B
Questions about Sea buckthorn
- How far apart should I plant Sea buckthorn?
- About 2.5 m (8.2 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 2–4 m (6.6–13 ft).
- Does Sea buckthorn need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 8 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Sea buckthorn need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Sea buckthorn?
- It tolerates about -40 °C (-40 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 3.
- When does Sea buckthorn flower?
- From about April for 1–2 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Sea buckthorn poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not well documented; for dogs not well documented; for people not known to be toxic. Berries are edible; the very thorny branches can injure.
- What grows well with Sea buckthorn?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Sea buckthorn. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- Plants For A Future database, PFAF
- USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS
- CABI Invasive Species Compendium, CABI
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Dioecious and wind-pollinated: plant one male for 5-8 females; fixes nitrogen with Frankia; suckers freely and can become weedy near dunes and rivers; chill about 700-1000 hours (estimate).
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Oleaster (Russian olive) Elaeagnus angustifolia
- Strawberry Fragaria x ananassa
- Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum
- Dwarf apple tree Malus domestica
- Raspberry Rubus idaeus
- Blackberry Rubus fruticosus agg.
- Grapevine Vitis vinifera
- Common fig Ficus carica