Elaeagnus

( el - ee - AG - nus )

At-A-Glance Information

This is a genus of deciduous and evergreen shrubs and trees that needs full sun to partial shade and little to regular water. They are commonly called Silverberry or Oleaster. The berries produced by these plants will attract birds to your garden. These serve as great screen plants in the yard and grow quickly to a dense habit without much training needed. Evergreen forms will have silver or brown dots on leaves, and deciduous forms will have silvery-grey leaves. Flowers are insignificant but fragrant. Use these shrubs as background plantings, as specimen trees, in mixed beds and borders, or as members of edible gardens. They also make great privacy hedges.

elaeagnus Species and Varietals

The genus Elaeagnus includes between 50 and 70 distinct species and is the type genus member of the Elaeagnaceae, or Oleaster, plant family. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1754. Elaeagnus growing zones vary depending on species; see the descriptions below for more information. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian Olive, Silver Berry, Oleaster, Wild Olive)
This deciduous tree grows best in USDA hardiness zones 3-7 or Sunset growing zones A2, A3, 1-3, 7-14, 18 and 19. Native to Europe and Asia, this species grows to 20 feet tall and wide, but can be hedged. Bark is shredding and dark brown, contrasting with willowlike gray leaves. Small, very fragrant flowers appear in early summer followed by fruit resembling olives (hence the name Russian Olive). Variety 'Red King' has bright red fruit. This tree may become invasive. Fruit is edible. This species is considered invasive in the Western United States, including California, Montana, and Arizona.

Elaeagnus 'Coral Silver'
This hybrid cultivar (E. ebbingei x E. pungens) grows best in USDA hardiness zones 6-9 or Sunset growing zones 2-24 and is evergreen in zones 19-24 (partially deciduous elsewhere). Plants reach 5-10 feet tall and produce yellow flowers. Has bright grey-silver foliage and coral-red berries in autumn. Use to accent dark areas of the landscape.

Elaeagnus x ebbingei (Ebbinge's Silverberry, Oleaster)
This is an evergreen, hybrid-species shrub that grows best in USDA hardiness zones 7-9 or Sunset growing zones 4-24 and has thornless branches. Silvery young leaves mature to a dark green. Tiny, fragrant silvery flowers. Its red fruit makes a good jelly. Variety 'Gilt Edge' has yellow leaf margins. Grow this species in full sun to partial shade for best foliage color. These shrubs are considered invasive in the United States and New Zealand.

Elaeagnus multiflora (Cherry Elaeagnus, Cherry Silverberry, Goumi, Gumi, Natsugumi)
This deciduous shrub grows best in USDA hardiness zones 4-9 or Sunset growing zones 2b-24. Hailing from China and Japan, these shrubs reach up to 6-10 feet tall and wide when mature. They produce silvery-green leaves and small, fragrant spring flowers followed by bright orange berries. Fruit is edible but tart and is loved by birds.

Elaeagnus pungens (Silverberry, Thorny Olive)
Evergreen shrub, best in USDA hardiness zones 6-10 or Sunset growing zones 4-24 with a rigid, sprawling, angular habit. Individual shrubs reach up to 10-15 feet wide, but they tolerate pruning well and can also be sheared. Greyish green leaves have rusty dots, and branches are spiny. Oval fruit is red with silver dust. Can be used as a container plant. This species is considered highly invasive across the southeastern United States, from Virginia to Florida and west to Louisiana. Varieties are outlined below:

'Fruitlandii'
Has large, silvery leaves.

'Maculata'
(Golden Elaeagnus)
With gold-blotched leaves.

'Marginata'
(Silver-Edge Elaeagnus)
Silvery leaf margins.

'Variegata'
(Yellow-Edge Elaeagnus)
Yellow leaf margins.

Caring for Elaeagnus

Elaeagnus shrubs are typically purchased as specimens from a reputable nursery. Space them 4-5 feet apart if planting a hedge, and space specimens 8-10 feet apart to accommodate their fast-growing habit and mature size. Plant Elaeagnus in either full sun or partial shade; they will grow quicker and more densely the more sun they receive. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 5.0 and 8.0 (acidic to slightly alkaline). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these shrubs are considered drought-tolerant, able to get by on rainwater alone for most of the year with supplemental irrigation during extended periods of drought.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Throughout the year, prune to remove dead or damaged branches. Each year in late winter, a pruning for shape can be completed if necessary. If growing as a hedge, use hedge trimmers a few times a year during the active growing season, and cease pruning about two months before frosts will occur in the area. Older shrubs and those that have outgrown their space can be hard-pruned in late wintertime when the plant is dormant. They can be cut all the way back to half or even a height of 6-12 inches, depending on how much rejuvenation is needed. Elaeagnus shrubs are fast-growing, typically reaching maturity in 3-10 years' time. They survive in landscapes for 20-50 years or more before needing to be replaced.

Caring for Elaeagnus in Containers
Elaeagnus shrubs are wonderful in the ground, but can also be grown in containers. Choose a container that is at least a few inches wider and deeper than the nursery pot or root ball. Ensure that the pot has adequate drainage holes on the bottom to allow for excess water to flow away. Fill with a well-draining potting mix amended with organic material and perlite, and top with a layer of mulch to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water regularly as the plant establishes itself in its new home. Once established, waterings can be lessened. Elaeagnus plants grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Prune to remove dead, damaged, or diseased foliage at any time during the growing season. Every few years, check the bottom of the pot to ensure that the plant is not outgrowing its root space. If roots are growing through the drainage holes in the bottom of the container, it is a good indication that it needs to be potted up; choose a slightly larger container and repot.

Propagation

Elaeagnus shrubs are best propagated via semi-ripe cuttings taken in summertime. To propagate your Silverberry shrub, follow these instructions:

Propagating Elaeagnus by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth on your propagated shrub, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Problems and Pests

Certain species of Elaeagnus shrubs are considered invasive in some regions; see the species descriptions above for more information. Check with local authorities before planting. Although generally free of pest or disease issues, Elaeagnus shrubs can suffer from Fungal Leaf Spot. For more information on this issue, including how to prevent and eradicate it, see the links below:

Pests & Pest Management

Plant Issues