Basically title. I really like the taste of sea buckthorn, we call it ablepikha or chichkhan in my language, I grew up drinking juice made from them. I can’t for the love of me find either the berries or the plant in California. I really want to cultivate it in my garden so I can harvest my own berries. Is there anywhere in my region I can get them? Do they even grow in California?
It’s difficult to find as buckthorn in general is invasive in California.
Alva said:
It’s difficult to find as buckthorn in general is invasive in California.
Ahh that’ll explain it. We don’t have currants for a similar reason, sad that we can’t taste these fruits here 
@Alix
I recommend going to a well-stocked nursery & asking what’s comparable or unique… You may be surprised by the diversity of fruits we can grow and might find a new favorite. Bare rootstock trees and berry bushes will start to be available locally next week at most nurseries.
@Alva
I love tart berries, I’ll take a stop by my local nursery. It is the perfect time of year for rearing new plants. Thanks for the suggestion.
@Dezi
Man, I love Napa. I’m from South San Jose, so Napa is an hour and a half drive from me. I might have to stop by sometime in the spring to pick up some plants if there’s a sale then. I will keep your mentioned sale in mind. We have some nice nurseries here in the South Bay, but I haven’t found any currants here. The red currants are my favorite; I would love to grow a bush in my backyard. I definitely need to start driving a little further for some more boutique nurseries. I expect Gilroy would have a bunch? Definitely a weekend project for later on this spring.
I’ve seen sea buckthorn juice at Russian and Middle Eastern grocery stores in LA and San Diego if you’re looking for a quick fix while waiting for yours to grow.
@Finch
I am very well aware; the juices are from Noy, right? They’re all imported from Armenia. It’s good, but it tastes like the sea buckthorn was unripe, just a bit too sour.
Well, you may end up running up against people who are trying to keep native species growing. It would also be a possible federal crime.
@Dezi
Thanks for the suggestion. I might buy a crap ton of seeds :). I know these plants as being very hardy; in my home country, they’re known for popping out of cracks in the sidewalk and pavement and destroying roads if they’re not controlled. I know them as very tough plants. The website says they’re hardy to zones 3-8. I checked my location, and I live in a zone 9b-10a. Would that be an issue?
@Dezi
I can use planter boxes to supplement it with the proper kind of soil that they want. A quick Google search says that apricot trees are hardy up to 8a, but our apricot tree makes so many apricots that the tree would break its own branches from the weight—and not the small branches, like the main ones. It’s worth a shot; worst case, I’m down $20. Thanks for the help, man, it is much appreciated.