Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a shrub that can grow 3m – 8m tall and 3m – 8m wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides).
This plant has several common names including: sea buckthorn, sallow thorn, swallow thorn or willow thorn.
This is a deciduous plant that takes 20-50 years to reach full maturity.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: sea buckthorn, sallow thorn, swallow thorn, willow thorn
Scientific name: Hippophae rhamnoides
Plant type: Shrubs
Habit: Bushy
Height: 3m – 8m
Spread: 3m – 8m
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained, Well drained
Garden type: Coastal
Planting type: Hedging & Screens, Low Maintenance
Seasonal colors
Season | Stem | Foliage | Flower | Fruit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spring | ||||
Summer | ||||
Autumn | ||||
Winter |

How to plant Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) – Oleg Kosterin, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Shrubs are fundamental elements in any garden.
They add color and interest throughout the seasons with their wide variety of flowers, foliage, fruits, trunks and stems.
Whatever the size or style of your garden, the permanent woody structure or the foliage of evergreen shrubs will give the space shape and dimension.
How to plant
In this section we will learn how to plant Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.
Soil
Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a plant that prefers to grow in loam or sand.
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The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.
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Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.
As for pH, it is a plant that grows ideally in soils with pH alkaline or neutral.
Regarding drainage, Hippophae rhamnoides likes to grow in moist but well drained or well drained soils.
Sunlight
Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) should be grown in full sun places.

Cultivation profiles – Growing Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) – Stephen James McWilliam, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons