Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry) vs Dewberry (Dwarf Raspberry) - TreeTime.ca

Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry) vs Dewberry (Dwarf Raspberry)

Hippophae rhamnoides l.

Rubus pubescens

Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry)
Dewberry (Dwarf Raspberry)

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.

Dewberry (Rubus pubescens) is a native, low-growing perennial that spreads by creeping stems to form a natural groundcover. In spring, it bears small white flowers that attract pollinators, followed by bright red edible berries resembling tiny raspberries. They are an important food source for birds and mammals.

Widespread across Canada, Dewberry serves as a larval host plant for butterflies such as the Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon), adding to its ecological value. It is a suitable choice for naturalization, pollinator gardens, habitat plantings, and ecological restoration projects.

Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry) Quick Facts

Dewberry (Dwarf Raspberry) Quick Facts

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Zone: 2b
Zone: 1b
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Height: 0.2 m (0.5 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Spread: 0.2 m (0.5 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: any
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Growth form: upright, trailing
Spreading: stolons - medium
Suckering: high


Foliage: slender silvery-green leaves
Fall colour: reddish or purplish
Flowers: small, white
Bloom time: late spring to early summer
Berries: small, edible
Berries: red, edible
Harvest: mid-summer
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, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Other Names: sallowthorn, sandthorn, seaberry
Other Names: creeping red raspberry, dwarf raspberry, dwarf red blackberry, dwarf red raspberry, trailing raspberry