Now, really, why on earth doesn’t everyone simply adore Sea Buckthorn? I’ll wager a good number of people reading this post may never have heard of this lovely berry-bearing shrub, so in case you’re wondering, here’s why you need to get to know it pretty sharpish.
First, there’s the silvery foliage, which looks stunning all year round, and then becomes ever such a perfect foil for the bright orange berries when they ripen. If you’ve never seen a Sea Buckthorn in full fruit, you’re sorely missing out. The branches become encrusted in those shocking-coloured berries in late summer and early autumn, and the best thing is that the berries are edible.
Admittedly, buckthorn berries are a bit horrid raw, but you can turn them into a fabulous jelly to serve with fish and bowl over your guests. Or you can make a superb tangy cheesecake topping.
Oh, and the other thing about sea buckthorn is that it is so terribly obliging about location, especially if your garden is next to the sea or rather windswept. What a nice, kind plant to have: and yet so many of us have never even heard of it.
Vital stats
Location:
Will cope with wild and windswept as well as better-behaved gardens. Any soil
Light:
Full sun
When to plant:
Autumn/spring
What can I expect from this plant?
Height: 6 metres
Spread: 6 metres
Berries: you will need to plant more than one to get berries from late summer onwards.
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Nick Mann
If you’re minded and rather more skillful than me you can also make soap from it!
isabel
wow, that’s clever – have you got a guide for how to do that?