Common sea-buckthorn

Hippophae rhamnoides – a species of the genus Hippophaë of the family Elaeagnaceae. It is 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; «rhamnoides» means «Rhamnus-like» (from the words «rhamnos» (Rhamnus) and «oides» (resembling)).

In nature it grows throughout Europe, in the Caucasus, in Central and Western Asia, China and Mongolia, and in the tropical regions of Pakistan and India. It is found in river floodplains and along lake shores.

It is a deciduous multi-stemmed shrub, less often a tree, 1-3 (3-6 (15)) m high. The crown is rounded, pyramidal or spreading. Young shoots are pubescent, silvery; perennial shoots are covered with dark brown, almost black bark. Shortened shoots are covered with long numerous thorns.

Female buds are 2-3 times smaller than male ones, with 2 covering scales. Male buds are large, with 5-7 covering scales.

Root system is superficial, located at a depth of about 40 cm and spreading over a large area. It consists of structural, semi-structural, sparsely branching roots that form nodules and are covered with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Leaves simple, alternate, linear-lanceolate or lanceolate, entire, up to 8 cm long, grayish-green above, yellowish- or brownish-silvery-white beneath.

The plant is dioecious, with regular flowers. Some shrubs bear female flowers, which develop into fruits, while others bear male flowers that produce pollen dispersed by wind to pollinate the female flowers. The perianth is simple, cup-shaped. Staminate flowers are gathered in catkins, pistillate ones grow from the axils of thorns and small branches on short pedicels.

Fruits are round or oval drupes of orange or golden-yellow color with a single pit. The skin is shiny and of medium thickness. The flesh is juicy and aromatic, the scent somewhat reminiscent of pineapple.

The stone (pit) is oblong-ovoid in shape, dark brown, almost black, hard and shiny. Begins to bear fruit in 3–6 years.

Botanical illustration by Jacob Sturm. From the book «Deutschlands Flora in Abbildungen», 1796

Varieties: thornless – Dar Katuni, Golden Ear, Pineapple; large-fruited – Augustina, Azhurnaya, Zhemchuzhnitsa; good pollinators – Aley, Gnom; Moskovskaya Krasavitsa, Chuyskaya, Krasnoplodnaya.

Hardiness zone: zone 2a (-45°C).

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

Care: does not tolerate digging under the crown. Does not need fertilization due to its rather extensive root system.

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

Pruning: prune in early spring before bud break. Shape the crown for the first 4-5 years. After 8-10 years perform rejuvenation pruning, removing old branches with little growth while retaining three-year-old shoots.

Propagation: propagated by stratified seeds, cuttings, and root suckers. When grown from seed, cultivar characteristics are not preserved.
For propagation by cuttings, take a 15 cm cutting in mid-June and remove its 3 lower leaves. The soil mix consists of river sand, peat and topsoil. Recommended temperature +28°C with air humidity 90%.

Pests: sea-buckthorn fly, sea-buckthorn aphid

Diseases: verticillium wilt

Uses: the fruits are widely used in medicine, cosmetics, winemaking, veterinary medicine, and for tanning or dyeing leather and fabrics. From the fruits one can make marmalade, pastille, purée, jam, and candy fillings. In landscape design it can be used in group or solitary plantings, and also for creating hedges. Thanks to its strong root system it can be grown to stabilize slopes, ravines, embankments, to prevent landslides, and along highways and canals.