Sea Buck Thorn
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts
| Common name | Sea buckthorn |
| Scientific name | Hippophae |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Rosales |
| Family | Elaeagnaceae |
| Type | Thorny deciduous shrub |
| Habitat | Sandy, dry, salty soil in full sun |
| Native range | Asia and Europe, from the Himalayas to the Altai |
| Colours | Orange berries; silvery-green leaves |
| Edible parts | Berries |
| Special feature | Roots add nitrogen; survives -40 degrees C |
Sea buck thorns are deciduous shrubs that are also known as sea berries, sand thorns, and Sallow Thorns. It is a landscaping and popular shrub. Its berries are rich in nutrients and Vitamins, which are good for health. This plant contains Omega 7 which is very useful in the treatment of skin problems. Its fruits, leaves, and flowers are used to make medicines. The berries of this plant are nutritious and edible. The botanical name of the sea buck thorn is “Hippophae”, which means “shiny horse”. Its oil is rich in Phytosterols, Carotenoids, and Essential Fatty Acids. All of these have medicinal properties to treat many diseases. Its aggressive shoot system is useful for windbreaks, steep slopes, and barrier hedges and also to stabilize the banks of rivers.
History
In Eurasia, since Centuries, the Sea Buck Thorn was used for medicinal purpose and for food. From ancient times in Greece, its berries, young branches and leaves were used as a treatment medium for horses. Throughout history, it has been used by the Tang Dynasty, Tibetans and Greeks. At the time of horse races, they used the berries to feed the horses. It is believed that it originated from the Himalayas. It was also used by European Cultures.
Anatomy
The branches of Sea Buck Thorn are thorny, stiff and dense. Its leaves are distinct and pale silvery green in color. These leaves are 3 to 8 centimeters long and 5 millimeters broad. Sea buck thorn has separate female and male plants. Its female plant produce berry like fruits of orange color and its male plant produces flowers of brown color. Flowers of the male plant produce wind distributed pollen. The berrylike fruit of this plant is juicy, soft and rich in oils. The roots of this plant, spread extensively and rapidly. Its roots also provide nitrogen fixation in surrounding soils. It is a fairly slow growing plant.
Habitat
Sea buck thorn is native to Asia and Europe. In dry valleys it grows at high altitude. This plant naturally occurs in Nepal, India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Great Britain, Denmark, France, Poland, Germany, Finland, Norway, Mongolia, Sweden and Netherlands. Sea buck thorn plant is grown in the coastal and mountainous areas of Asia and Europe. It is native to the Northern Himalayas, north Western Europe and Central Asia to Altai Mountains.
Soil for Planting
Sea buck thorn plant grows well in sandy soils. It can tolerate salt in the soil. It can survive in a variety of soils. But deep, well drained and medium sandy soil is ideal for good growth of the plant. It will also grow on gravely soil and marginal land. Soil with high organic matter is also ideal for it.
Planting
The Sea buck thorn plant grows in dry and sandy areas. After pollination, its fruits occur in 100 days. In many areas it is planted by cuttings or seeds to prevent soil erosion. If planting is done by seeds, then it should be in the month January or early February. Its germination occurs in 10 days.
Watering
The Sea buck thorn plant requires water daily. At the time of germination it requires water regularly. It requires irrigation where the annual rainfall is less than 400mm.
Temperature and Humidity
This plant can survive at the temperature of -40 degree C. This plant can also tolerate drought. When the seeds are sown in the spring season, it requires a temperature of 3 to 5 degree C under moist conditions to achieve good germination. Commonly it is found at high altitudes of 4000 to 14000 feet. When planting is done by seeds it requires 70 to 90% humidity.
Flowering and Maturing Care
Sea buck thorn plant requires full sunlight. It cannot tolerate shady conditions. It requires maintenance and pruning. Pruning is required on a regular basis.
Harvest
Harvesting of sea buck thorn plant is not very easy because of the dense thorn arrangement of the berries on each branch. It is very difficult to harvest this plant. A very common method of harvesting is to remove the entire branch, but it reduces future harvest and it is also destructive to the plant. Using a berry shaker is the most effective technique of harvesting berries by not damaging the branches of the plant.
Pests and Pesticides
The most damaging insects of sea buck thorn plant are Gypsy Moth, Rose Leaf Roller, Green Aphids, Caterpillars, Fruit Fly, Comma Shaped Scale and Gall Tick. These pests can attack and damage the plant. The diseases of this plant are Fusarium Wilt, Brown Rot, Damping Off, Scab and Verticillium Wilt. These diseases can cause severe damage to the plant. Birds, rats, mice and deer are also harmful for the plant. Fusarium is the most dangerous disease in the plant. The Sea Buck Thorn Fly is also very harmful for it. It may cause serious effect on the plant. Verticilium wilt can cause Yellow Wilt on the leaves of the plant. It also causes problems in the development of the berries. These pests and disease are controlled by various insecticides and pesticides.
Uses
Sea buck thorn is used in the treatment of skin disease and burn, wounds, sunburn and slow healing as a medicinal herb. In China and Russia it is widely used as a food. Its berries are used in the manufacturing of anti-ageing and cosmetics products. Its flowers and leaves are used to treat Ulcers, Gout, Skin Rashes, Gastrointestinal and Arthritis. Its leaves are used to make herbal tea, which is rich in protein building blocks, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. It has antioxidant properties. The berry oil or seeds of the Sea Buck Thorn have traditionally been used for heart disorders, asthma, stomach disease and chest pain. As it is a rich source of Vitamin A, C and E it is used in the treatment of night blindness and dry eye. The berries of the sea buck thorn are used in the making of sauce, jellies, jam, purees and juices. It is also used as an ingredient in the food for babies in Finland. Its leaves and bark are used to treat diarrhea. It is also used to treat cough, fever and cold. Its wood is also used for charcoal and fuel.
Sea buckthorn FAQs
What does Hippophae mean?
The name Hippophae means ‘shiny horse’. In ancient times, the berries and leaves were fed to horses.
Where does sea buckthorn grow?
It is native to Asia and Europe, from the northern Himalayas to Central Asia and north-western Europe. It grows in dry valleys, on the coast and at high altitude.
Why is sea buckthorn hard to pick?
The berries sit tightly packed on thorny branches. Cutting off whole branches harms the plant, so growers use a berry shaker instead.
Can you eat sea buckthorn berries?
Yes, they are juicy and full of vitamins. They are made into sauce, jellies, jam, purees and juice.
How cold can sea buckthorn survive?
It can survive temperatures as low as -40 degrees C, and it is drought tolerant. It likes full sun and cannot cope with shade.
Randi Jones is the owner and founder of the Nature Gift Store, an online retailer specializing in nature-themed gifts, educational science projects, live animal nature kits and real butterfly artwork. A biology graduate who fell in love with insects, she founded the company in 2001 to make active learning about nature fun, accessible and engaging for children and adults. Her store offers real butterfly frames, home and garden decor and educational live animal kits, including ant farms, worm farms, tadpoles, ladybugs and hermit crabs, and she runs a bug museum in Washington featuring live animals like Eddie the Iguana alongside other reptiles and insects.
