Sea-Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)
Sea-buckthorn isn't actually a Buckthorn, but it is a native species, originally found on the east coast. It is extremely hardy and salt tolerant.
Sea-buckthorn's bright orange berries are an important Winter food for Fieldfares and Thrushes in particular. In the Neolithic they were also a (rather unpleasant) staple for humans, although I have seen recipes for jelly and even a "topping for cheesecake" (!). I used to have a very nice French perfume with Sea-buckthorn as a key ingredient, though this seems to remain something of a speciality in a sub-region in Provenance. Sea-Buckthorn is also a food plant for Emperor and Ash Pug moth larvae, among others.
Please be careful where you plant Sea-Buckthorn; outside its natural range it can be invasive, particularly when planted in sand dunes.
Provenance certificates are available on request for Sea-Buckthorn plants, which are from the Southwest of England.
Suppliers: Perrie Hale Forest Nursery
Your purchase of Sea-buckthorn helps us support a range of charities, which are related to the products we sell.
See our planting and size guide for details and tips on planting. Our Sea-buckthorn plants are all bare root, and are consequently available for delivery from November until March. During this period there may be up to two weeks delay between placing the order and dispatching, due to weather conditions or pressure of orders, which are dealt with in date sequence. Orders for Sea-buckthorn placed between March and September are confirmed in October ready for dispatch from November.