LORD male sea buckthorn

Main characteristics

• Type
• Male sea buckthorn cultivar. Used only to pollinate female plants, it does not bear fruit.
• Hardiness (zone)
• Zone ~3a (tolerates cold winters) according to several sellers.
• Mature size
• Approximately 3 to 3.6 meters tall (≈ 10-12 feet), width around 2.4-2.5 meters according to sources.
• Habit & foliage
• Erect to rounded habit, gray-green (or silvery gray-green) foliage, slightly thorny stems but few thorns compared to other cultivars.
• Flowering
• Whitish-yellow male flowers, fairly early, appearing in spring, before or at the same time as leaf budding. Flowering period long enough to coincide with that of the female plants.
• Compatibility/use
• Used as a pollinator. One male ‘Lord’ plant is recommended for every 5 to 7 female plants in the vicinity to ensure good pollination.

Advantages of ‘Lord’

• Effective pollination: Because it flowers early and its flowering period overlaps with that of many female varieties, it promotes good fertilization of female flowers.

• Fewer thorns: Its thorny structure is less of a hindrance than in other male cultivars, making it easier to handle and maintain, and resulting in fewer injuries.

• Moderate/tall height: Sufficient to cover a good pollination area without requiring complicated structures.

• Good hardiness: Withstands cold winters well, suitable for cold climates in zones 3a and nearby.

What to watch out for / limitations

• No fruit: Obviously, as a male, it does not produce berries. Its role is exclusively to fertilize the females.

• Spacing/ratio: For effective pollination, the recommended male/female ratio (≈ 1 male for every 5-7 females) must be respected. Too few males and pollination will be insufficient; too many males and it will be useless for production.

• Thorny (although moderate): Even though it is not very thorny, there will still be thorns on some branches, which can make pruning or walking through the tree more difficult.

• Early flowering = risk of frost: Since it flowers early, there is a risk that the male flowers will be damaged by late frost, which could reduce pollination. It is important to choose a protected location or to be sure that late frosts are not common in your area. (This is an implied warning—not always explicitly mentioned but logical.)