Sea Buckthorn

Hippophae rhamnoides 'Leikora'

fruit

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides Leikora) is a tough, thorny, deciduous shrub, 6 to 12 ft tall, with narrow, silvery-green leaves and dense clusters of brilliant orange berries that are intensely tart and exceptionally high in vitamin C. It fixes its own nitrogen through root symbiosis, so it thrives in poor soils and even enriches them. The plant is dioecious: Leikora is a heavy-fruiting female, and a male plant must be planted nearby (about one male for every six females) to pollinate it. It is extremely hardy and tolerant of wind, salt, and drought.

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

• Sea Buckthorn male pollinizer — A male plant is required nearby (about one per six females) for any fruit to set
• Clover — A living groundcover that complements the nitrogen-rich planting
• Yarrow — Draws beneficial insects and tolerates the same lean, sunny conditions

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

• Aphids →

  Cluster on new growth; rinse off and conserve natural enemies

• Fruit fly →

  Can infest ripening berries in some regions; harvest promptly and remove fallen fruit

• Green aphid →

  Specific to sea buckthorn shoots; tolerate light levels and conserve predators

🌾 Harvest & storage

Sea buckthorn berries ripen from late summer into autumn and cling tightly in dense clusters along thorny stems, which makes picking slow. Many growers cut whole fruiting branches and freeze them, then knock the frozen berries off cleanly. The very tart, vitamin-rich berries are made into juice, syrup, jam, and sauces rather than eaten fresh.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

Sea buckthorn berries are exceptionally high in vitamin C, along with vitamin E, carotenoids, and beneficial oils. Intensely tart, they are processed into juice, syrup, jam, and sauces.