Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry) vs Western Sand Cherry - TreeTime.ca

Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry) vs Western Sand Cherry

Hippophae rhamnoides l.

Prunus pumila var besseyi

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Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry)
Western Sand Cherry

Sea Buckthorn, aka Seaberry, is a nitrogen fixing shrub that produces attractive berries high in vitamin C.

While we can't confirm claims that the berries are effective in treating various ailments, many people believe consuming the berries helps with arthritis, infections, and asthma, among other things.

Sea Buckthorn plants have attractive pale silvery-green leaves, dense branches, and large thorns, people like to grow in ornamental hedges or as a first row in a shelterbelt.

Note: these plants typically reach maturity and make their sex easily known (females producing fruit) in their 3rd or 4th year of growth. Our seedlings are too young to identify their sex.

Western Sand Cherry is known for its unique, leathery grey-green foliage and beautiful white blossoms. It is a popular ornamental shrub in parks and front yards. Both you and the wildlife will love its edible small dark red to purple cherries.

Due to its small stature and spreading qualities, Western Sandcherry is suitable as an underplanting or groundcover.

Many people graft plum and cherry varieties to Western Sand Cherry and use it as rootstock. It is also popular to graft hardy apricots to.

Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry) Quick Facts

Western Sand Cherry Quick Facts

Zone: 2b
Zone: 2a
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: any
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: high
Suckering: medium


Foliage: slender silvery-green leaves
Foliage: grey-green
Fall colour: reddish-orange
Flowers: white
Berries: small, edible
Berries: small purple cherries
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no

In row spacing: 0.9 - 1.2 m (3 - 4 ft)

Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Other Names: sallowthorn, sandthorn, seaberry