Buckthorn, Sea

SEA BUCKTHORN  Hippophae rhamnoides
• A tough, sun‑loving deciduous shrub prized for its heavy crops of vivid orange berries, which ripen along the silvery branches in late summer and persist into fall; small, inconspicuous greenish flowers appear in spring and are wind‑pollinated.
• Forms a dense, thorny, suckering thicket of narrow, silver‑green foliage that gives a distinctive, almost Mediterranean look; berries are highly nutritious and edible when processed, though harvesting can be challenging due to the spines.
• Extremely cold‑hardy and thrives in dry, sandy, or alkaline soils; widely used for erosion control, shelterbelts, and wildlife value, with exceptional tolerance for wind, drought, and exposed prairie sites.
• Full Sun
• Zone 2, 3–5 m Height × 2–4 m Width