Sea buckthorn
Hippophae rhamnoides
Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a shrub suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 10–20 ft tall and 8–15 ft wide, needs low to medium water, and prefers full sun. Edible vitamin-C-rich orange berries. Need male + female for fruit. Suckers — naturalized hedge or windbreak.
low to medium water10–20 ft tall and 8–15 ft wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
Photos
At a glance
- Botanical name
- Hippophae rhamnoides
- Variety / cultivar
- 'Friesdorfer Orange', 'Pollmix'
- Type
- Shrub
- Mature size
- 10–20 ft tall and 8–15 ft wide
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- full sun
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- sandy, loam, clay
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.5
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- high
- Bloom color
- yellow
- Bloom time
- early spring
- Pollinator value
- moderate
Planting & establishment
Water sparingly even during the first summer — these xeric species are prone to crown rot from overwatering, especially in clay. Once established, no supplemental water needed.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Sea buckthorn good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes. Sea buckthorn is included in the Front Range Plant Finder as a shrub suited to Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Sea buckthorn get?
- It matures to about 10–20 ft tall and 8–15 ft wide.
- How much water does Sea buckthorn need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- Is Sea buckthorn native to Colorado?
- No — it is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
