Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry) vs Western Chokecherry - TreeTime.ca

Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry) vs Western Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana var. demissa

Hippophae rhamnoides l.

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Western Chokecherry
Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry)

Western Chokecherry is a shrub or small tree commonly used for farmstead and field windbreaks.

It produces white flowers in the spring and edible dark purple fruit that matures between September and October. Its cherries are great for making for making jams, jellies or wine, but are not very palatable for raw eating.

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: Sea Buckthorn is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Both are required for fruit production, though only female plants bear fruit. A plant’s sex typically cannot be identified until its third or fourth year. Our seedlings are too young to determine their sex.

Western Chokecherry Quick Facts

Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry) Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 2b
Height: 7 m (23 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 5 m (16 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: high

Toxicity: toxic to horses, cattle, etc.)

Foliage: slender silvery-green leaves
Fall colour: reddish-purple
Berries: edible, astringent, red-purple
Berries: small, edible
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)
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB
Other Names: bitter-berry, chokecherry, common chokecherry, virginia bird berry
Other Names: sallowthorn, sandthorn, seaberry