code: 1004
It is also making its way in to some of the most adventurous chef’s kitchens
Family: Eleagnaceae
Common name: Sea Buckthorn
Plant Classification: Hardy shrub
Minimum Height: 1.0 meter
Maximum Height: 2.5 meters
Packet Content(approx.): 8
One of the most unusual shrubs in the UK, this beauty bears willow-like leaves, arranged tight to the branches. Both male and female plants occur, but only the females bear the amazing solid clusters of soft golden berries. These are famous for their many health benefits and are most commonly used in herbal teas. It is also making its way in to some of the most adventurous chef’s kitchens, becoming a very popular alternative in household recipes. With a sweet, sharp flavour, the berries add a fresh twist to many recipes, and also make a refreshing health juice drink. Some studies have also shown that it can help with cardiovascular, memory, growth, anti-inflammatory, and skin health. The berries are popular in Denmark, especially in home made pies and jams, where they are an alternative to more traditional berries. A powerful antioxidant, the berries are sometimes called Nature’s most balanced fruit, full of vitamins and minerals such as, vitamins A, B1, B2, C, D, K, P and also omeaga 3, 6, 7 and 9. In ancient times, both leaves and young branches were fed to horses to support weight gain and also appearance of the coat. This lead to the name of the genus, Hippophae derived from hippo (horse), and phaos (shining)
Sowing advice:
These seeds have already been thoroughly cleaned and cold-stored for several months. They should be sown into well-drained, sandy compost at any time of the year, and covered to their own depth with sand or grit. No artificial heat is needed; the seed tray is best left in a cool spot outside and kept moist. Seeds germinate very slowly indeed in the spring after a chilling in the cold compost, regardless of when they are sown. Some seeds may take more than a year to germinate.
Information:
Bloom Time: March to April
Bloom Description: Yellow green (female)Brown (male)
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Hedge, Naturalize
Flower: Showy
Fruit: Showy, Edible
Other: Thorns
Tolerate: Erosion
Culture
Easily grown in average, moist, well-drained, neutral to alkaline, sandy loams in full sun. Tolerant of wind, cold temperatures (USDA Zone 3) and poor soils. Plants are dioecious, so female plants will not produce fruit without a nearby male pollinator.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Hippophae rhamnoides, commonly called sea buckthorn, is a large, thorny-stemmed, suckering, deciduous shrub that typically grows to 8-12′ tall and as wide. It sometimes grows in tree form, and may reach 20′ tall or more in its native habitat. It is native to Europe, Northern Asia and China. It is often found growing in coastal areas, hence the common name. It is particularly noted for producing both willow-like silver-green leaves which are attractive throughout the growing season and long-lasting orange berries on female plants in fall. Narrow, linear, silver-green leaves (to 3″ long) have a scaly surface. Non-showy, yellow-green, female flowers in small racemes appear on female plants in spring (March-April) before the leaves emerge. Male flowers bloom in tiny catkins on male plants at the same time. Female flowers give way to orange fall fruits (each to 1/3″ long) which persist on the branches through winter. Fruits are used to make teas, jams, jellies, sauces and beverages, including an orange juice which is commercially produced in Germany and Russia. Fruits are rich in vitamins A, C and E, folic acid, carotenoids, and fatty acids. Branches are thorny.
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 can reduce 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.
