shrub layer
sea buckthorn
hippophae rhamnoides
a nitrogen-fixing thicket that holds dunes together and fruits vitamin-c bombs in salt wind. the frontline pioneer for exposed edges.
functions
field guide
native to
Europe and Asia, coasts and riverbanks
height
2–6 m
spread
to 4 m, suckering
hardiness
RHS H6 · USDA 3–8
light
full sun
moisture
dry
soil
sand, gravel, salt-tolerant
uses
in the kitchen
intensely tart orange berries, exceptionally high in vitamin C
traditional medicine
berry and seed oil are prized in skin care
historical & folk use — not medical advice.
harvest
berries in autumn — they're soft and the branches are thorny, so many growers cut whole sprigs and freeze them
propagation
seed, cuttings, or suckers; plants are male or female, so you need both to set fruit
season
open the calendar →grower's notes
memberspropagation, guild role, and deeper ecology for sea buckthorn — the members' view.
sign in as a member, or request access →
relationships — grows well with
see sea buckthorn on the relationship map →the takeaway
start a guild around sea buckthorn
plant these together and the relationships on this page start working for you — feeders, protectors, and cover, layer by layer.
- shrub
- sea buckthorn — the anchor
- canopy
- italian alder
- groundcover
- creeping thyme
works inside: swale on contour · nurse tree establishment · windbreak ladder
design patterns using this plant