COASTAL BERRY

SEA BUCKTHORN HAS MULTIPLE USES AS BIRD AND INSECT HABITAT, SOIL EROSION INHIBITOR AND SKIN TREATMENT

- Jennifer Stackhouse

THE RAW BERRIES ARE ASTRINGENT BUT EDIBLE AND CAN BE MADE INTO JAMS, SAUCES AND JUICES.

If you’ve never heard of sea buckthorn you’re not alone, as it isn’t grown widely in Australia, although it has quite a CV as a medicinal and therapeutic plant.

It’s closely related to Elaeagnus, which is often grown as a hedge plant in cool and coastal climate conditions. As its common name suggests, sea buckthorn is a coastal plant and native to northern Europe and Asia.

Its name may be familiar from cosmetic labels as it is used in face creams and lotions. The berries in particular are rich in vitamins (including A, B and C) and in antioxidants and are added to some cosmetics as they are said to have anti-ageing properties.