Common Sea Buckthorn

Hippophae rhamnoides

hip-POH-fay ram-NOY-deez
8 to 15 ft.
8 to 12 ft.

low

yellow

very early spring

8 to 15 ft.

8 to 12 ft.

No

Europe, China, Himalayas

sun

USDA zone 4

hardy to 7,000 ft.

Common sea buckthorn is a very irregularly shaped, multi-stemmed shrub with an upright growth habit.

Slender branches with brown bark bear narrow silvery-grey leaves and slender thorns. In early spring, inconspicuous yellow flowers appear, later forming orange drupe-type fruits that persists into fall and winter.

This shrub is dioecious and requires male and female plants in order to bear fruit.

low

yellow

very early spring

8 to 15 ft.

8 to 12 ft.

No

Europe, China, Himalayas

sun

USDA zone 4

hardy to 7,000 ft.

There is one common sea buckthorn growing at the Xeriscape Garden.

It is very drought tolerant, but sends out suckers through underground runners constantly. Because the suckers have sharp thorns, it has not been a pleasant plant to try to contain. They require digging out individually.

Prune to achieve desired shape. Remove suckers by digging them out with a shovel.