# Sea Buckthorn (*Hippophae rhamnoides*)

Sea Buckthorn is a spiky shrub that grows bright orange berries. These berries are not only beautiful but also very nutritious!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Coastal areas and sandy soils
- **Also known as:** Sallowthorn, Sandthorn, Seaberry

![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 with distinctive narrow, silvery-green leaves. Its most striking feature is the abundance of bright orange or yellow berries that densely cling to the branches, often appearing before the leaves fully emerge, creating a vibrant display.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Rosales
- **Family:** Elaeagnaceae
- **Genus:** Hippophae

## Interesting facts

- Its berries pack more Vitamin C than oranges, making them a superfood for wild animals and humans!
- Sea Buckthorn oil was used by ancient Greeks for horses, giving it a name meaning 'shiny horse'!
- Soviet cosmonauts famously used its berries and oil for nutrition and radiation protection in space!
- These hardy shrubs can live for over 100 years, standing strong against tough weather and harsh conditions!

## Special abilities

- **Spiky Guardian:** Sea Buckthorn develops sharp thorns along its branches, protecting its nutrient-rich berries and tender shoots from hungry animals.
- **Coastal Conqueror:** Sea Buckthorn can thrive in salty coastal environments and poor sandy soils, where most other plants struggle to grow.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 200-600 cm
- **Spread:** 200-500 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** Blackbird (*Turdus merula*) — Feeds on nutrient-rich berries, aiding seed dispersal.
- **Symbiotic with:** Frankia bacteria (*Frankia alni*) — Forms root nodules, fixing atmospheric nitrogen for the plant.
- **Eaten by:** [Roe Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/roe-deer) (*Capreolus capreolus*) — Browses on young shoots and leaves, especially in winter.

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [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.
- [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.
- [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [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

- [Grasses](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses)
- [Grasses, Shrubs & Bushes](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses-shrubs-and-bushes)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## 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?

200-500 cm

### How big are the flowers on Sea Buckthorn?

0.2-0.5 cm

### When does Sea Buckthorn bloom?

Spring

### Is Sea Buckthorn edible?

Yes

### Is Sea Buckthorn toxic?

None

### What is Sea Buckthorn's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [International Peace Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/international-peace-garden) — US · Botanical Garden

## 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*)

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Source: [Sea Buckthorn: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sea-buckthorn)