Common Sea Buckthorn
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.
Common Sea Buckthorn
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.
Plant details
Botanic Name
Hippophae rhamnoides
Pronunciation
hip-POH-fay ram-NOY-deez
Mature Height
8 to 15 ft.
Mature Spread
8 to 12 ft.
Water usage
One Droplet: Water twice per month or less, once established.
Two Droplets: Water about once per week, once established.
Three Droplets: Water about twice per week, once established.
Flower Color
yellow
Bloom time
very early spring
Colorado Native
No
Natural Habitat
Europe, China, Himalayas
Light Requirements
sun
Cold Hardiness
USDA zone 4
Elevation Limit
hardy to 7,000 ft.
Performance
There is one common sea buckthorn growing at the Water Wise Demonstration 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.
Maintenance
Prune to achieve desired shape. Remove suckers by digging them out with a shovel.