Sea buckthorn Botanical

Hippophae 'Botanical' – a medium-medium sized shrub up to 2.5–3 m high and about 1.5 m wide with a round-pyramidal crown covered with moderate thorns. Leaves are lanceolate, about 92 mm long, and shoots are straight, which facilitates plant care. The shrub is resistant to diseases and pests, winter-hardy down to -40 °C, so it can be grown in various climatic conditions.

Fruit bearing begins in the third–fourth year after planting, and yield reaches 39–256 c/ha (or up to 20 kg of berries per bush) by the sixth year. Berries are large, weighing from 0.72 to 1.2 g, with a thin but dense skin of yellow-orange hue and a sour-sweet taste. Inside the fruit, there is a high level of vitamin C (49–167 mg/100 g), carotenoids, sugars, acids, and oils, making berries a valuable source of nutrients.

For successful growing, neutral soils with pH 6.5–7 are required, suitable for chernozems, loamy, and clayey soils. The plant prefers sunny areas without strong wind and good drainage. Watering in the first year should be regular, to a depth of 40 cm; after two–three weeks – feeding with organic and mineral fertilizers (three times per season). Nitrogen fertilizers are applied in spring, potassium and phosphorus in summer. Pruning is done in early spring.

Berry harvesting is carried out from early to late August; they easily separate from peduncles, which simplifies the harvesting process. Berries can be consumed fresh, dried, or frozen, and also used for making jams, marmalade, and compotes. Due to its decorative form and useful properties, Hippophae becomes a popular choice both in garden and commercial plantings.