About
A deciduous bushy shrub to around 5m tall and wide. scented creamy-yellow flowers borne in small clusters in late spring to early summer are followed by egg-shaped silvery fruit that ripen to red. Its leaves are narrowly oval with wavy edges, 5-10cm long, silvery when young before maturing to green but staying silvery beneath.
About the genus
Elaeagnus can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs or small trees, with simple, often silvery-scaled leaves, and small fragrant tubular flowers borne in clusters in the leaf axils, and followed by small juicy fruit
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height4-8 metres
Spread4-8 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCoastal, Cottage and informal garden, Mediterranean climate plants, Wildlife gardens
Native toHimal. China Japan
FragranceFlower
Care notes
CultivationGrow in full sun; will thrive in any well-drained soil, including poor soil, except very shallow chalk
PruningPruning group 1
PropagationPropagate by seed or by softwood or semi-ripe cuttings
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free but may be susceptible to honey fungus, coral spot or leaf spot (fungal) see leaf damage on woody plants