Peking Cotoneaster vs Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry) - TreeTime.ca

Peking Cotoneaster vs Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry)

Hippophae rhamnoides l.

Cotoneaster acutifolia

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry)
Peking Cotoneaster

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.

Peking Cotoneaster is a medium-sized shrub that is well adapted to colder climates. Best suited for use as a hedge, Peking Cotoneaster has dark green foliage that turns a stunning reddish orange in the fall.

Hardy fruit guru, Bernie Nikolai (DBG Fruit Growers), has started to recommend grafting hardy pear varieties to Peking Cotoneaster after his experiences were successful and produced fruit faster than other rootstocks. Remember to leave some nurse limbs if you try this.

Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry) Quick Facts

Peking Cotoneaster Quick Facts

Zone: 2b
Zone: 2a
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Height: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: high
Suckering: none
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: slender silvery-green leaves
Foliage: glossy upper surface
Fall colour: reddish-orange
Flowers: white, spring
Berries: small, edible
Berries: black fruit
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no

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

In row spacing: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Other Names: sallowthorn, sandthorn, seaberry