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Hippophae rhamnoides

sea buckthorn

Sold by 35 nurseries

  • Other common names sea buckthorn
    sallow thorn

    swallow thorn
    willow thorn

    see more

  • Family Elaeagnaceae

  • Genus Hippophae are deciduous shrubs or small trees, with narrow, silvery leaves and inconspicuous flowers followed on female plants by orange fruits; both male and female plants must be grown for a good crop of berries

  • Details H. rhamnoides is a large deciduous shrub with narrow, willow-like, silvery leaves and thorny shoots. Flowers very small, yellow, followed by small, bright orange berries on female plants

  • Plant range Eurasia

Characteristics

  • Foliage Deciduous

  • Habit Bushy

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H7

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Sun

  • Aspect West-facing or East-facing or South-facing or North-facing

  • Exposure Exposed or Sheltered

Soil

  • Loam

    Loam

  • Sand

    Sand

  • MoistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained

  • SoilLoam, Sand

  • pHAlkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 4-8 metres

  • Ultimate spread 4-8 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 20-50 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grow in an exposed or sheltered position in full sun; suitable for the mixed border or in coastal regions use as windbreak, hedging or stabilizing sand dunes. This plant is listed on Schedule 9 of The Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order (1985) as amended, and on Schedule 3 of the EU (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 in the Republic of Ireland as an invasive non-native species. While this does not prevent it from being sold or being grown in gardens in Ireland, the RHS encourages those that do grow it to take great care with managing it and with disposing of unwanted material. The RHS also encourages gardeners to find alternative plants to grow to those listed

Propagation Propagate by seed, semi-hardwood and hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types Hedging & Screens Low Maintenance Coastal

How to care

Pruning Pruning group 1

Pests Generally pest free

Diseases Generally disease free

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