Sea buckthorn, common sea-buckthorn

Sea buckthorn – a genus of deciduous shrubs in the Elaeagnaceae family (Elaeagnaceae). Distributed in the temperate climate of Eurasia. The name comes from the Greek word «hippos», meaning horse, and «phaos» - shine; it was believed that a horse fed on sea buckthorn leaves would have a glossy coat.

They are found on the shores of water bodies, in floodplains of streams and rivers, on sandy soils and shingle. In mountains it rises to altitudes up to 2100 m above sea level.

Common sea-buckthorn

Members of the genus are small shrubs or trees with spiny shoots, less often without them, with a rounded, spreading or pyramidal crown. They reach a height of 0.1-6 (15) m. Bark dark brown, almost black.

Root system shallow, located in the upper arable layer.

Leaves alternate, long, narrow, green, with small dots on the upper surface of the leaf, of a grayish-white, silvery or rusty-golden color.

Willow-leaved sea-buckthorn

Flowers small, inconspicuous, appear before the leaves. The plant is dioecious. Male flowers sit in short spike-like inflorescences at the base of young shoots. Female flowers grow singly or 2-5 in the axil of a covering scale. The perianth is two-parted, simple. In the female flower the receptacle is tubular, concave, in the male – flat. Stamens 3 or 4. Pistil single with a one-seeded, superior, one-chambered ovary. Stigma two-parted. Pollinated mainly by wind, less often by insects.

Fruits – false drupes, consisting of a nut covered by a juicy, fleshy, enlarged, shiny and smooth receptacle. Fruits numerous, spherical or elongated, orange, golden-yellow or reddish, densely «sticking» to the shoot, edible.

Common sea-buckthorn

Species:
Hippophaë rhamnoides L. — Common sea-buckthorn
Hippophaë salicifolia D.Don. — Willow-leaved sea-buckthorn

Hardiness zone: zone 2a (-45°C).

Location: light-loving. Prefers loose soil rich in phosphorus and organic matter. Poorly tolerates waterlogged soils.

Care: does not tolerate digging of soil under the crown. Does not require fertilization, as it has a rather wide root system.

Planting: best carried out in spring or autumn. Planting pit size – 50x50 cm. When planting, add humus and double superphosphate, as well as a handful of wood ash. The root collar at ground level.

Pruning: pruning is carried out in early spring before bud break. Shape the crown up to 4-5 years. After 8-10 years perform rejuvenation pruning, removing old branches with small growth while leaving three-year-old shoots.

Propagation: propagated by stratified seeds, cuttings, root suckers.

Pests: sea-buckthorn fly, sea-buckthorn aphid

Diseases: verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt

Uses: fruits are widely used in medicine, cosmetics, winemaking, veterinary medicine, for tanning or dyeing leather and fabric. From the fruits you can make marmalade, pastille, puree, jam, confectionery fillings. In landscape design it can be used in group and solitary plantings, as well as for creating hedges. Thanks to its powerful root system, it can be grown to stabilize slopes, gullies, embankments, to prevent landslides, and near highways and canals.