Sea Buckthorn Plant Care

Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) belongs to the Elaeagnaceae family within the Hippophae genus. Sea Buckthorn is native to cold-temperate regions of Eurasia. Sea Buckthorn is also known as Common Sea Buckthorn, Hippophae, Sea Buckthorn Berry.

Sea Buckthorn displays a deciduous shrub or small tree growth habit, reaching up to 10 ft tall with a spread of approximately 8 ft. Sea Buckthorn produces small yellow to orange berries.

Leaf size: approximately 3 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Sea Buckthorn every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Sea Buckthorn thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Hippophae rhamnoides tolerates temperatures of 0–100°F. Sea Buckthorn prefers humidity levels of 30–70%.

Well-draining sandy soil with good organic content. Good drainage is essential for Sea Buckthorn to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Sea Buckthorn every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy soil with good organic content. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Sea Buckthorn can spread to about 8 ft (2.4 m) and reach about 10 ft (3 m) tall. Space plants about 8 ft (2.4 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Sea Buckthorn while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown trees need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Sea Buckthorn can be propagated through seeds, hardwood cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to hippophae goniocarpa plant care, which shares the same genus.

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Sea Buckthorn is susceptible to aphids, scale insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.