Sea buckthorn

Sea buckthorn, whose scientific name is Hippophae rhamnoides, is an evergreen plant belonging to the botanical family Elaeagnaceae. This hardy and highly ornamental shrub, which can reach a height of up to 4 metres, has a densely branched stem with thorny shoots on which small, fleshy, orange-coloured berries develop, resulting from the development of the floral receptacle after fertilisation.

Sea buckthorn is a dioecious species: the male and female flowers of this class of plants are borne on separate individuals (from the Greek dis = twice and oikia = house). To obtain berries, it is therefore necessary to plant at least one male plant for six female plants (or at least one of each), with bees and wind ensuring pollination.

This shrub adapts very well to all types of soil and exposure and is resistant to wind and cold; it is very common in the Rhône Valley, where it colonises riverbanks. It also forms attractive, colourful hedges in gardens.

The flowers form in small clusters at the base of young shoots; the male flowers are tiny and greenish, while the female flowers are more brownish. Flowering occurs in March–April, and the berries develop in autumn.

Bees mainly visit the male flowers of sea buckthorn, where they actively collect the abundant pollen; this constitutes an excellent food source at the beginning of the season. Nectar is also present, but in smaller quantities.

The orange berries of sea buckthorn are edible and extremely rich in vitamin C. In the past, they were consumed by sailors to prevent scurvy. Nowadays, they are used to prepare jams, juices and vitamin-rich syrups. One challenge remains harvesting the fruits without being too severely pricked by the formidable thorns!

Sources

T. Silberfeld, C. Reeb, Les plantes mellifères, 2016

Various authors, Giardinaggio senza problemi, Guida completa del Reader’s Digest, 1981