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Sea-buckthorn

©Amy Lewis

Sea-buckthorn

Sea-buckthorn is a spiny, thicket-forming shrub of sand dunes. It's native to the east coast of England but considered an invasive species elsewhere. It is most obvious in autumn when it is full of bright orange berries.

Scientific name

Hippophae rhamnoides

When to see

January to December

Species information

Category

Statistics

Height: 1-8m
Common.

About

Sea-buckthorn is a very spiny shrub, native to sand dunes along the east coast of England. It forms dense thickets with thorny twigs and, although it has small green flowers, is most noticeable in the autumn when it displays an abundance of bright orange berries.

It is also often found in other dune systems in the UK, where it has spread and become invasive after being planted to help stabilise the dune systems. The dense thickets can out-compete and shade out smaller species that would typically inhabit areas of mobile dunes.

How to identify

Sea-buckthorn is a large, deciduous shrub that has long, narrow, greyish leaves and small, green flowers. Its bright orange berries are probably its most distinguishing feature.

Distribution

Grows wild along the east coast of England; widely planted elsewhere.

Did you know?

The orange berries of sea-buckthorn provide food for wintering thrushes as they arrive from the continent in the autumn. They can also provide food for us, too, as they can be used to create jellies or syrups.