Seabuckthorn seabuckthorn Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a hardy, thorny, deciduous nitrogen-fixing shrub valued for bright orange, vitamin-rich berries and for stabilizing sandy, coastal sites. It tolerates wind, salt spray, drought, and poor soils, making it excellent for tough, sunny positions. Plants sucker from the base and can form thickets; use root barriers where spread is undesirable. Cultivars vary in thorniness, berry size, oil content, flavor, and ripening time. It is dioecious—separate male and female plants—so plan for pollination (typically 1 male per 6–8 females). Growing conditions LightFull sun (at least 6–8 hours direct sunlight daily). Soil typeWell-drained sandy or gravelly loam. Tolerates poor, dry, and saline soils; avoid waterlogging. Prefers neutral to alkaline conditions. Water requirementLow once established. Moderate and regular watering the first 1–2 seasons; thereafter only during prolonged droughts. Nutrient requirementLow. A nitrogen-fixing shrub; do not add nitrogen-rich fertilizers. Light compost or potassium-rich amendments in spring on very sandy soils. Back to plant list
