permaculture

["Guy Clark" <guyclark@socket.net>]

Michael-
        According to Dirr's Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, Common 
Seabuckthorn
(Hippophae rhamnoides) is hardy to Zone 3 (-40).  He says it does tend to
form large colonies by suckering profusely, but he does not curse it by
calling it invasive.  It is supposed to have a bright orange fruit which is
drupe-like.  He says that it is one of the best plants for winter fruit
color.  It is nitrogen fixing; in fact, it is in the same family as the
Autumn Olive.  He says that it can be a bit difficult to get started.  It
prefers an infertile, sandy soil with a moist subsoil.  It is salt tolerant
and should be planted in a ratio of 6 females to one male for proper
pollination (much like Ilex verticillata).  It is apparently hard to sex
the plants so you may end up with all non-fruiting plants.
Namaste',
Guy Clark
Fertile Crescent Farm
310 Hartley Court
Columbia, MO  65201
573.449.GROW
guyclark@socket.net