Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) TARMO

Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) 'Tarmo' (Male Pollinator)

Finnish elite male bush with enormous pollen production and extreme frost hardiness.

'Tarmo' is a top-tier Finnish sea buckthorn variety that serves exclusively as a male pollinator for female (fruiting) plants. It does not produce fruit itself, but without it, you would have no harvest. It holds the prestigious Finnish quality certificate FinE®. It stands out for its exceptionally abundant pollen production, excellent plant health (resistance to shoot canker), and high ornamental value due to its silvery leaves.

Key Highlights:

• Enormous pollen production: Up to 9 male flowers per bud ensure perfect pollination.
• Extreme frost hardiness: Bred for harsh Nordic winters.
• Disease resistance: Increased resistance to shoot spotting/canker.
• Ornamental appearance: Dense, silvery bush, only mildly thorny.
• Essential partner for female varieties (e.g., 'Terhi', 'Tytti', 'Raisa').

Origin and Registration

• Origin: Finland (MTT Research Institute). Released in 2000.
• Creation: Grown from open-pollinated seeds of a wild Finnish strain, which were treated with X-rays to promote genetic variability.

Variety Characteristics

Bush

• Growth: Medium vigor, very densely branched. Reaches a height of 2 to 3 meters. The crown shape is round to oval.
• Thorns: Shoots are only mildly thorny, making maintenance much easier.
• Leaves: Highly decorative, strikingly silvery color.

Flowering and Pollination (Function)

• Flowering: Blooms in May. Flowers are small and inconspicuous but produce massive amounts of pollen.
• Pollination: Sea buckthorn is wind-pollinated. 'Tarmo' is a universal pollinator for most Finnish female varieties.

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost: Fully adapted to extreme freezes.
• Environment: Handles strong winds and soil salinity excellently (ideal for challenging conditions).
• Location: Requires full sun.

Cultivation Recommendations

• Planting ratio: To ensure a bountiful harvest, it is recommended to plant one male bush ('Tarmo') for every 5 to 8 female bushes. The pollinator should be planted upwind according to the prevailing winds.
• Maintenance: Minimal pruning required. Beware of root sucker formation.