Sea buckthorn hippophae rhamnoides grows well in this part of the world. The glow of it's orange berries have been apparant for a few months now. It's that intense colour that contrasts so well with the pale gray-green of the lanceolate leaves.
The shrub grows up to to about 5 metres here. It is tolerant of salt in the air and thrives in poor soil and sun. Its root system often helps to prevent soil erosion in coastal areas. It can also be used as barrier shrub forming a dense thicket. Its branches are covered in thorns.
The shrub grows up to to about 5 metres here. It is tolerant of salt in the air and thrives in poor soil and sun. Its root system often helps to prevent soil erosion in coastal areas. It can also be used as barrier shrub forming a dense thicket. Its branches are covered in thorns.
I picked some of the berries a couple of years back for the seeds, They came up like a rash but since then progress has been slow and the rather straggly little specimans are still in their pots at about 4 inches in height. It's going to be some time before we see the orange glow of buckthorn berries in our garden.
According to John Wright, the well known forager of River Cottage fame, buckthorn berries are a great delicacy. From experience I would say the berries are difficult to pick and are squidged in an instant. His answer to this is to squeeze the juice straight into a recepticle from the berry. Sounds very time consuming to me....
In orchards of buckthorn other methods of harvesting are practiced. One is to use a special berry picker. Another way to gather the fruit is to cut off the branch and freeze it making it much easier to remove the berries.
Buckthorn berries are high in Vitamin C and can be made into a drink. It is also used in cooking and pharmaceutical purposes.
Perhaps next year I'll try drinking the berry juice or putting it in a pie with other fruit.
If you would like to find out more about sea buckthorn this is an informative Site.
If you would like to find out more about sea buckthorn this is an informative Site.
They look so lovely too!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds great, but yes a little impatience might come in while harvesting them. This plant is a new information for me.
ReplyDeleteI would proffer that Sea Buckthorn is an acquired taste. I had the (mis)fortune to have a gourmet Sea Buckthorn flavoured chocolate recently - yeuch, yeuch, yeuch! The berries do look lovely; though for me the plant is the best place for them.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the retries are best left on the bush given the faff collecting them and the acquired taste.
ReplyDeleteI gather you're not a fan Pen!
how timely, I've never seen a seabuckthorn plant but read a couple of years ago that they do well in windy coastal areas and I have just order 10 small bareroot plants(among a few others) so it's good to hear a nice write up on the plant, they are said to be a native and I plan leaving the berries for the birds and any other creatures that like them, could your plants be too dry in pots Janet as I read they like wet areas, Frances
ReplyDeleteThis is very attractive indeed. I can't imagine having this in a small garden but where there is plenty of space I can imagine this to be quite magnificent. Very interesting colour contrast between the bright orange berries and the grey-green leaves. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit I didn't realise they were edible. They look a little unpalatable, I have to say. I will try one though as they grow in profusion in one of the gardens I tend.
ReplyDeleteLike a plant covered with tiny pumpkins. Might make a nice autumn indoor bouquet.
ReplyDeleteJanet these reminded me of my honeymoon on the the Norfolk coast where they flourish - but that's another story and certainly did not have time for fiddly foraging.Good luck with your seedlings - hope you have at least some of both sexes
ReplyDeleteI agree with Patio Patch they do flourish in Norfolk and seem to thrive in sandy soil. I saw a feature about them in a programme once and they used a kind of container and made long sweeping movements to get the fruit off the bush, apparently they are very sour.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is a gorgeous shrub! I've never seen them before. I love that orange color. Have you cooked with them before?
ReplyDelete(I responded to your tomatillo comment. I was thinking of using them in a salsa--not sure what else to make with them! They're a bit bitter by themselves.)
Frances, I think the young plants didn't thrive on neglect. I sort of lost sight of them. I'd be interested in how you get on with your plants.
ReplyDeleteChristine it's the colour contrast I like but I will have to make a space for mine should they ever grow big enough.
Dave, you will tell us what you think of he taste?
Linniew, I think that the thorns may detract a bit from the bouquet. They are wicked. Makes picking fruit so difficult.
Laura, I don't hold out much hope for these seedlings of whatever sex!
Elaine, I have a berry picker with a handle which is great for picking blueberries but I think it might squash the buckthorn berries. The picker you describe sounds like the ones used in orchards. I must do some more research.
Bumble lush, I have never eaten one never mind cooked with them! The general consensus seems to be that they're a bit on the sour side.
The berries are incredible! Best of luck with those seedlings.
ReplyDeleteJanet, just wanted to pop by to say Hello and say thanks for all the comments and chat we have exchanged over the last while. It was really nice to meet you in your garden too :-D
ReplyDeleteGosh trying to catch up here… what to say… older posts first… a brilliant posting of images of fungi and mosses. I didn’t get out this year with my camera so thoroughly enjoyed (and inspired) by your images!
The starling videos are always fab to see. What a brilliant descriptive word for them too :-)
Great to see familiar areas of your garden and seeing your pottering. Now what’s that?
Rhus – never thought of it as winter colour. I remember it growing in MIL’s garden. She must have had the female plant. I do remember it suckering too.
Loved your Light and Land photos. I keep meaning to capture more landscape images myself. We live in a beautiful country.
Your ‘Welly Dug’s did make me smile & I’ve enjoyed this post on the Sea Buckthorn. First thoughts instantly went to would these berries attract Waxwings. Guessing not a plan for you when you would like to harvest them.
Re your Menus, sorry not planning to make changes from explorer. I know it’s tricky to cover all browsers though. I completely understand that one. OH always tests as many as he can when we make changes. Your advice will help others though :-)
Finally, I’ve kept the Plant Hunters Garden to the end. I’ve only quickly scanned through your images - enough to capture the feel. I’m going to visit this one. I want to keep some surprises for my visit so I’ll read your posts after I’ve made a visit myself.
I love the whole plant hunter concept (very familiar with Cox) but as for the area… I went to High School in PItlochry… many memories of the town. Next year… perhaps meconopsis time :-)
Havn't seen sea buckthorn for over 20 yrs, since we moved down here to Devon from the NW coast in Lancashire, it was everywhere on the sand dunes where we walked the dog. Never knew you could eat them - just think what we missed.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos of the orange berries - thanks for bringing back happy memories!
We saw a big clump of Sea buckthorn at Westonbirt Arboretum. I've always thought they looked pretty if a little straggly. I used to get a lovely handcream from the company Weleda made from sea buckthorn which had a lovely citrusy scent. I remember seeing Ray Mears foraging for coastal food and making something from the berries. It looked a real faff and didn't look that appealing but they are meant to be good for you.
ReplyDeleteOh, funny--sea buckthorn is recommended here in the desert as a super-xeriscape plant, right up there with prickly pear and yucca. It can handle alkaline soil with no problem, too. I haven't heard of anyone making anything edible out of them, though!
ReplyDelete