Common Name: Sea Buckthorn

General Information

Hippophae rhamnoides is a spiny, deciduous shrub or tree, usually growing 1 - 15 metres tall but sometimes reaching 18 metres[].
The plant has a wide range of uses as a food, medicine and source of materials. It has become better known as a food and a medicine since the 1970's, being especially valued for the nutrient-rich fruits it produces. It is often cultivated to supply fruit for making juices etc, is used as a pioneer for helping to establish woodland, as a soil stabilizer and also as an ornamental and hedge plant.

Known Hazards

Some reports suggest that the fruit is poisonous[, ], whilst it may be very acid it is most definitely not poisonous[].

Botanical References

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Range

Europe, including Britain, from Norway south and east to Spain and Asia to Japan and the Himalayas.

Habitat

Usually found near the coast, often forming thickets on fixed dunes and sea cliffs[, , ]. River banks and terraces, dry river beds, forest margins, thickets on mountain slopes, moraines, meadows at highest elevations; 600-4,200 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	6.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Hippophae rhamnoides is a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -25 to -35°c when fully dormant[, ].
An easily grown plant, though it requires a sunny position - seedlings fail to grow in a shady position and mature shrubs quickly die if they are overshadowed by taller plants[, ]. It grows well in very sandy soils, though it is able to succeed in most soil types, including poor ones, so long as they are not too dry[, , , ]. It grows well by water and in fairly wet soils[]. Established plants are very drought resistant[]. Plants are very wind resistant and tolerant of maritime exposure[].
Plants are fairly slow growing[].
Hippophae rhamnoides is a complex species, that is currently (2019) seen as comprising nine subspecies. These subspecies are not given separate records here unless there is something that particularly distinguishes them. The subspecies are classified as follows:-
Hippophaë rhamnoides subsp. rhamnoides. This form is restricted to Europe where it is usually found in coastal situations, often in very exposed and windy areas. It is a shrub or a tree that can grow up to 18 metres tall. The orange or reddish, globose to ovoid fruit can be 4 - 9mm x 3 - 8mm[]. Although usually found near the coast in the wild, this subspecies also thrives when grown inland[11
Hippophaë rhamnoides subsp. carpatica Rousi. Found in a belt through Europe from Poland to Romania and Macedonia. A disjunct plant confined to the Transsylvanian Alps and the Carpathian Mountains, extending down to the northwest shore of the Black Sea, from sea level to around 400 metres
Hippophaë rhamnoides subsp. caucasica Rousi. Native to Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey, probably also in much of eastern Europe. On sandy and stony ground in the mountains between the Black and to the Caspian seas, mainly between 1,000 - 2,500 metres.
Hippophaë rhamnoides subsp. fluviatilis Soest. Native to parts of Europe, especially from Germany to Spain and east to Switzerland and Italy. Also in Romania. On stony and sandy slopes in the European Alps, extending into the Pyrenees and Apennines, between 100 - 1,900 metres.
Hippophaë rhamnoides subsp.mongolica Rousi. Native to Mongolia, eastern Russia and China (Xinjiang), where it grows on gravelly, sandy, and alluvial ground in western Outer Mongolia, and Altai Mountains to Lake Baikal, about 500 - 1,800 metres. A shrub, it usually grows up to 2.5 metres tall, occasionally reaching 6 metres. The almost globose fruit is 6 - 9mm in diameter[].
Hippophaë rhamnoides subsp. sinensis Rousi. Native to northern and central China, where it grows in open sunny habitats on river banks, dry river beds, forest margins or thickets on mountain slopes, at elevations from 800 - 3.600 metres. It is a shrub or a tree that can grow from 1 - 15 metres tall with a bole up to 30cm in diameter. The yellow to deep red fruit is around 4 - 6mm in diameter[].
Hippophaë rhamnoides subsp. turkestanica Rousi. Widespread in central Asia from Kazakhstan to Mongolia and south to Afghanistan and northern India, where it grows on river terraces, dry river beds, occasionally on moraines or open mountain slopes, at elevations from 600 - 4,200 metres. It is a shrub or small tree, usually growing up to 6 metres tall, occasionally to 15 metres. The red to yellow, subglobose to broadly ellipsoid or obovoid fruit is 5 - 9mm x 3 - 5mm when dried[].
Hippophaë rhamnoides subsp. wolongensis Y.S.Lian et al. Native to Sichuan in China where it grows on mountain slopes at elevations from 1,600 - 2,000 metres. It is a shrub or a small tree growing 3 - 5 metres tall. The yellow, subglobose fruit is 4 - 7mm in diameter[].
Hippophaë rhamnoides subsp. yunnanensis Rousi. Native to China from eastern Xizang to western Sichuan and Yunnan, where it grows on sandy or stony river terraces, forest margins, thickets on mountain slopes, occasionally in meadows at highest elevations, at elevations from 2,200 - 3,700 metres. It is a shrub or a tree growing from 2 - 15 metres tall, with a bole that can be up to 30cm in diameter. The yellow fruit is around 5 - 7mm in diameter[].
A very ornamental plant[, ], Hippophae rhamnoides is occasionally cultivated, especially in N. Europe, for its edible fruit, there are some named varieties[]. 'Leikora' is a free-fruiting form, developed for its ornamental value.
Members of this genus are attracting considerable interest from breeding institutes for their nutrient-rich fruits that can promote the general health of the body (see edible and medicinal uses below)[].
Plants can be coppiced and usually produce abundant suckers, especially when grown on sandy soils[].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.
The sexes of plants cannot be distinguished before flowering, but on flowering plants the buds of male plants in winter are conical and conspicuous whilst female buds are smaller and rounded[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[, , ].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. Succulent and aromatic[]. They are too acid when raw for most peoples tastes[, ], though most children seem to relish them[]. The fruit becomes less acid after a frost or if cooked[]. They are more commonly used for making fruit juice since they are high in vitamins and have an attractive aroma[]. The fruits can also be used in many of the ways lemon juice is used in salads, smoothies and various cooked dishes[]. The fruit is being increasingly used in making fruit juices, especially when mixed with other fruits, because of its reputed health benefits[]. The orange or reddish, globose to ovoid fruit can be 4 - 9mm x 3 - 8mm[].
The fruit is very freely borne along the stems, it is ripe from late summer or early autumnr and can hang on the plants for much of the winter if not eaten by the birds. It is best used before any hard frosts, however, since the taste and quality of frosted berries quickly deteriorates[, ].
The fruit is very rich in vitamin C (120mg per 100g)[] and vitamin A[], The fruits of some species and cultivars (not specified) contain up to 9.2% oil[].

Medicinal

The twigs and leaves contain 4 - 5% tannin[]. They are astringent and vermifuge[, ].
The tender branches and leaves contain bio-active substances which are used to produce an oil that is quite distinct from the oil produced from the fruit. Yields of around 3% of oil are obtained[]. This oil is used as an ointment for treating burns[].

A high-quality medicinal oil is made from the fruit and used in the treatment of cardiac disorders, it is also said to be particularly effective when applied to the skin to heal burns, eczema and radiation injury, and is taken internally in the treatment of stomach and intestinal diseases[].

The fruit is astringent and used as a tonic[, ]. The freshly-pressed juice is used in the treatment of colds, febrile conditions, exhaustion etc[]. The fruit is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals, especially in vitamins A, C and E, flavanoids and other bio-active compounds. It is also a fairly good source of essential fatty acids, which is fairly unusual for a fruit. It is being investigated as a food that is capable of reducing the incidence of cancer and also as a means of halting or reversing the growth of cancers[]. The juice is also a component of many vitamin-rich medicaments and cosmetic preparations such as face-creams and toothpastes[]. A decoction of the fruit has been used as a wash to treat skin irritation and eruptions[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is traditionally grown in living fences in the northwestern Himalayas, where it helps to exclude livestock and other animals; mark out land boundaries; whilst also providing a range of medicinal and other uses[].
Very tolerant of maritime exposure[, , , ], it can be used as a shelter hedge. It dislikes much trimming[]. A very thorny plant, it quickly makes an impenetrable barrier.
Sea buckthorn has an extensive root system and suckers vigorously and so has been used in soil conservation schemes, especially on sandy soils. The fibrous and suckering root system acts to bind the sand[, ].
Because the plant grows quickly, even in very exposed conditions, and also adds nitrogen to the soil, it can be used as a pioneer species to help the re-establishment of woodland in difficult areas. Because the plant is very light-demanding it will eventually be out-competed by the woodland trees and so will not out-stay its welcome[].

Other Uses

The seeds contain 12 - 13% of a slow-drying oil[].

The vitamin-rich fruit juice is used cosmetically in face-masks etc[].
Various parts of the plant (especially the fruit and the seed) are used as ingredients in commercial cosmetic preparations for purposes including antimicrobial, antioxidant, emollient, humectant skin conditioner [].

A yellow dye is obtained from the fruit[]. A yellow dye is obtained from the stems, root and foliage[].
A blackish-brown dye is obtained from the young leaves and shoots[].

The heartwood is brownish-yellow; the sapwood is yellow. The wood is fine-grained, tough, rather hard, heavy, very durable. It is used for fine carpentry, turnery etc[, , ].
The wood is also used for fuel and charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a sunny position in a cold frame[]. Germination is usually quick and good although 3 months cold stratification may improve the germination rate. Alternatively the seed can be sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the autumn. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in late spring into their permanent positions. Male seedlings, in spring, have very prominent axillary buds whilst females are clear and smooth at this time[].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, early summer/July in a frame[]. Difficult[]. This is the easiest method of vegetative propagation[].
Cuttings of mature wood in autumn[]. Difficult[]. The cuttings should be taken at the end of autumn or very early in the spring before the buds burst. Store them in sand and peat until mid spring, cut into 7 - 9cm lengths and plant them in a plastic tent with bottom heat[]. Rooting should take place within 2 months and they can be put in their permanent positions in the autumn[].
Division of suckers in the winter. They can be planted out direct into their permanent positions and usually establish well and quickly[].
Layering in autumn[].