2-24-09: Hippophae rhamnoides

Hippophae rhamnoides Seaberry, a Eurasian native is one of the most widely grown hardy fruiting plants in the world yet almost unknown by Americans.

This vigorous grower reaches 6 – 10 feet in height, has grey-green willow like foliage and abundant clusters of yellow orange fruits in late summer and fall. The fruit is edible and tastes like a blend between orange and passion fruit. It is high in vitamin A, C and E. It is often cut for floral displays. This is a dioecious plant meaning the male and female flowers are on different plants. One male plant is required to every 6 – 8 female plants for pollination. Seaberry plants need at least a half day of sun and are grown in most soil types. It grows easily near the coast with salt spray. Seaberry is used as a thorny hedge that also provides a nutritious fruit for birds and humans. In Ancient Greece it was fed to horses to improve their health and to impart a gloss to their coat, the Latin name means ‘shiny horse’. Russian Orange variety of seaberry features very large orange berries and attractive slender silver green foliage. This tough, disease resistant plant has survived for centuries in Siberia. If you have a difficult place in the garden this might be the plant for it. The photo is of the male plant taken in February.

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