# Sea-buckthorn (*Hippophae rhamnoides*) Sea-buckthorn is a bright orange shrub that grows by the sea and in sunny places. Its small berries are packed with vitamins and are loved by birds and people alike! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Sea-buckthorn](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hippophae_%28Novogrudinina%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Виталий Уайлд, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hippophae_%28Novogrudinina%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Sea-buckthorn is a thorny shrub or small tree with distinct narrow, silvery-green leaves. Its most striking feature is dense clusters of bright orange or yellow berries that cling tightly to the branches, often remaining through winter. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Elaeagnaceae - **Genus:** Hippophae ## Interesting facts - Did you know Sea-buckthorn berries contain 15 times more Vitamin C than oranges? Wow! - Its scientific name, Hippophae, means 'shiny horse,' because ancient Greeks fed it to horses! - Sea-buckthorn berries can stay on branches all winter, providing food for birds when scarce! - The vibrant orange oil from its berries is used in cosmetics and skincare products! ## Special abilities - **Soil Enricher:** Sea-buckthorn has special root nodules that help it add important nitrogen to the soil, making it richer for other plants. - **Thorny Protector:** Sea-buckthorn can grow sharp thorns along its branches, helping to protect its valuable berries and leaves from hungry animals. - **Sand Stabilizer:** Sea-buckthorn can spread widely with deep roots and suckers, helping to hold sandy soils together and prevent erosion on coasts. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 200-600 cm - **Spread:** 150-300 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Fieldfare](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fieldfare) (*Turdus pilaris*) — Feeds on its nutrient-rich berries in winter. - **Shelter:** Chaffinch (*Fringilla coelebs*) — Uses its dense, thorny branches for nesting and protection. - **Symbiotic with:** Nitrogen-fixing bacteria (*Frankia alni*) — Fixes nitrogen in root nodules, enriching the soil. - **Eaten by:** [European Hare](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-hare) (*Lepus europaeus*) — Browses on its bark and young shoots, especially in winter. ## Traits - [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Cold Hardy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cold-hardy): Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before trying any berries you find in nature. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Sea-buckthorn? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Sea-buckthorn? 200-600 cm ### How wide does Sea-buckthorn spread? 150-300 cm ### When does Sea-buckthorn bloom? Spring ### Is Sea-buckthorn edible? Yes ### Is Sea-buckthorn toxic? None ### What is Sea-buckthorn's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Sea-buckthorn pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [International Peace Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/international-peace-garden) — US · Botanical Garden - [Botanischer Obstgarten Heilbronn](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/botanischer-obstgarten-heilbronn) — Baden-Württemberg, DE · Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Sea-buckthorn: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sea-buckthorn-1185)