The sea buckthorn plant is known for its brightly-coloured berries, giving early winter a splash of bright orange. Used both medicinally and cosmetically, the berries are edible and reagarded as a superfood due to their rich nutritional content.
Not native to Ireland, the plant was introduced to Murlough by the Downshire family in the 1890s to help stabilise the dunes. Its fast growing root system holds the dunes in place and is often used for anti-desertification purposes. It grows voraciously, spreading quickly even in poor soil, and grows especially well in coastal environments like Murlough.