Sea Buckthorn is native to Nepal. It grows along the edges of rocks, in riverside forests, and on riverbanks or dunes - as long as there is enough sun. The bush has needle-like leaves, sharp thorns and bright orange berries. The cultivation of Sea Buckthorn requires some patience, as it commonly takes six to eight years until the first harvest.

The berries of Sea Buckthorn contain vitamin C in quantities several times greater than Lemons.  As a result, Weleda uses it in several different products to boost the immune system. The oil from both the seeds and pulp are used in the Weleda Sea Buckthorn Care line.

Until the 1980’s, the wild Sea Buckthorn Berries were easily attainable in sufficient quantities from the Italian Friuli, the Swiss Misox and the French Southern Alps.  However, as civilization grew and construction increased, it became more difficult to collect these berries.

In the mid-1990’s, Weleda found a partner in Italy, Kurt Künzi, specializing in the cultivation of Sea Buckthorn. Today, Mr Künzi is one of our most important suppliers. He is a pioneer in the bio-dynamic cultivation of Sea Buckthorn.
Taking into account the particular climatic conditions of his farm, San Mario, Mr. Künzi and his team selected the most suitable Sea Buckthorn varieties from 120 species. The efforts clearly paid off: Over 80 hectares, the highest quality Sea Buckthorn spreads under the intense sun of Tuscany.

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