25 SEA BUCKTHORN SEEDS, SEABERRY (Hippophae rhamnoides)

You receive 1 package of 25 Seeds

Hippophae rhamnoides is the scientific name for the sea buckthorn (or seaberry) plant, a hardy, spiny deciduous shrub native to cold-temperate regions of Eurasia. It is primarily known for its abundant, nutrient-rich orange berries and is used for ecological purposes, in traditional medicine, and in the food and cosmetics industries.

• Appearance: It is a large, thorny shrub, typically growing 8-12 feet tall, with narrow, willow-like, silvery-green leaves. Female plants produce dense clusters of vibrant orange berries in the fall that often persist through the winter.
• Habitat: Native to Europe, Northern Asia, and China, it thrives in well-drained, sandy or gravelly soils and is often found in coastal areas, riverbeds, and on hillsides.
• Ecological Role: The plant is valuable for land reclamation and controlling soil erosion due to its extensive root system and its symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which enriches the soil.
• Hardiness: It is highly tolerant of wind, cold temperatures (USDA Zone 3), drought, and salty conditions, making it a resilient plant for challenging environments.
  
• Culinary: The berries are very high in vitamins A, C, and E, folic acid, carotenoids, and fatty acids. They are used to make juices, jams, jellies, sauces, and teas.
• Medicinal and Cosmetic: Extracts and oils from the fruit, leaves, and seeds are widely used in traditional medicine (particularly in Russia and Asia) for conditions like skin problems (eczema, burns, acne), cardiovascular issues, and digestive problems. The oil is a popular ingredient in hand creams, shampoos, and massage oils due to its regenerative properties.
• Wildlife: The dense, spiny bushes offer shelter and the nutrient-rich berries provide a food source for various birds and small mammals.
• Dioecious Nature: Hippophae rhamnoides is a dioecious species, meaning individual plants are either male or female. For female plants to produce fruit, a male pollinator must be nearby, as pollination is solely by wind.
• Propagation: Due to the difficulty in determining sex from seeds, vegetative propagation from mature plants of a known sex is often preferred in orchards.
• Potential Invasiveness: Because it fixes nitrogen and suckers (reproduces rapidly via root shoots), it can outcompete other vegetation and become invasive in certain non-native ecosystems, which is a concern in some regions like the British Isles and the Canadian prairies.