Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry) vs Northern Gooseberry - TreeTime.ca

Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry) vs Northern Gooseberry

Hippophae rhamnoides l.

Ribes oxyacanthoides

Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry)
Northern Gooseberry

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.

Northern Gooseberry is a small, ornamental quality native shrub with prickly stems. You can plant it anywhere you'd plant Prickly Rose or Common Wild Rose, such as your yard.

Most people find Northern Gooseberry berries a bit tart for significant fresh eating but they are good for baking, wine or jam.

Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry) Quick Facts

Northern Gooseberry Quick Facts

Lowest Price: $1.29 - SAVE UP TO 82%
Lowest Price: $8.99 - SAVE UP TO 40%
Zone: 2b
Zone: 1a
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: any
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Suckering: high
Suckering: none


Foliage: slender silvery-green leaves
Berries: small, edible
Berries: purple or purplish black
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, ON, QC, NL, YT, NT
Other Names: sallowthorn, sandthorn, seaberry
Other Names: canada gooseberry, canadian gooseberry