Hippophae rhamnoides L., Elaeagnaceae

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Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk; score: 9.5 (Hawaii-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment for Hippophae rhamnoides)

Other Latin names:  Elaeagnus rhamnoides (L.) A. Nelson

Common name(s): [more details]

English: sallowthorn, sea berry, sea buckthorn, sea-buckthorn

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Sea buckthorn is a dioecious multi-branched, thorny shrub, reaching 2 to 4 m in height with stout branches forming a round often symmetrical head. It has brown or black rough bark and a thick grayish-green crown (Rousi 1971). Staminate and pollinate flowers are inconspicuous appearing before the leaves. Leaves are alternate, narrow 4 to 6 cm long, and lanceolate with a silver-grey color on the upper side (Synge 1974). Flower buds are formed mostly on 2-year-old wood, differentiated during the previous growing season. Fruit is subglobose, 6 to 10 mm long and 4 to 6 mm in diameter, turning yellow to orange when mature in mid Sept. The root system is characterized by nitrogen fixing nodules (Akkermans et al. 1983)." (Li, Thomas S.C. 1999)

Habitat/ecology:  "Despite its name, sea buckthorn [PIER ed.: Hippophae rhamnoides] is currently most widely established in the Canadian prairies, particularly along fiver floodplains. Sea buckthorn prefers lighter soils but can grow in a variety of moist or wet soils, including clays and nutrient-poor land. It tolerates salty maritime environments very well." (Kaufman & Kaufman 2007, p. 139)

Propagation:  "Birds occasionally eat the fruits and disperse seeds, and plants also spread via rhizomes." (Kaufman & Kaufman 2007, p. 140)

Native range:  The native range of Hippophae rhamnoides L. (Elaeagnaceae) includes Europe, India, Pakistan, and temperate areas of Asia. (GRIN)

Impacts and invaded habitats:  "Sea buckthorn [PIER ed.: Hippophae rhamnoides] creates dense thickets that displace native plants and alter food and shelter for birds and other animals. The shrubs form an associationi with the microorganism actinomycete Frankia that fixes nitrogen, increasing nitrogen levels in the soil. Birds occasionally eat the fruits and disperse seeds, and plants also spread via rhizomes." (Kaufman & Kaufman 2007, p. 139-140)

Presence:

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Asia Asia	Asia (temperate)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180209
Asia Asia	Pakistan	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180209
Asia Asia	Siberia		Kaufman, Sylvan Ramsey/Kaufman, Wallace (2007) (p. 140) "Introduced from Siberia to Canada in the 1930s." (p. 140)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Canada Canada	Canada	introduced invasive cultivated	Kaufman, Sylvan Ramsey/Kaufman, Wallace (2007) (p. 140) "Introduced from Siberia to Canada in the 1930s." (p. 140) "Birds occasionally eat the fruits and disperse seeds, and plants also spread via rhizomes." (p. 140)
Europe Europe	Europe	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180209
India India	India (Republic of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180209

Comments:  Hippophae rhamnoides L. (Elaeagnaceae) is cultivated in some areas. (GRIN)

Control:  "Young seedlings can be hand pulled, especially when the soil is moist. Plants readily resprout after cutting, but applying glyphosate to cut stumps can kill plants. This treatment is most effective in late summer. Other herbicide treatments include foliar spray and applying triclopyr mixed with oil to the base of the trunk." (Kaufman & Kaufman 2007, p. 140)