Sea Buckthorn. (Hippophae rhamnoides). The Germans valued sea
buckthorn or the seaberry so highly for its vitamin C content during World
War II that they placed it on a list of plants to be protected as
essential to the war effort. Orange colored sea buckthorn berries have
historically been used for making jellies, marmalades, and sauces,
including a jelly that is served as a relish with fish. The spiny shrub or
small tree, native to Eurasia, grow from 10 to 25 feet tall and is an
attractive ornamental with its deciduous grayish green leaves, silvery on
the underside, and its colorful berries persistent most of the winter. The
bush takes its name from the fact that it likes to grow near the sea, even
on shifting sand, and from its many spines or thorns. Neverthe less, if
planted out in the open where it has plenty of light, it will do well in
any ordinary garden soil. To ensure fruit, both male and female trees must
be planted within close range of each other, one male to every six or
seven females. The bushes need no special care and are easily propagated
by seeds, cuttings, or layers. Sea buckthorn also increases from suckers
that can quadruple the number of bushes in an area within 4 to 5 years.
The berries, technically small nuts enclosed in juicy flesh, are up to 3/8
inch long vary form around to almost egg shaped.
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