Description
Elaeagnus –
There are about 45 species of deciduous or evergreen shrubs or trees, some scrambling climbers, in this genus. They occur mainly in Asia, but few are from Southern Europe and North America, with one species from Australia, in wild in thickets, and dry places. They are grown for their often silvery leaves which are alternate, smooth edged and lance shaped to ovate or oblong, which are green or variegated or glistening with tiny silvery or rusty scales, and for their sometimes intensely fragrant flowers, held in clusters. The flowers are followed by edible, red, brown or yellowish berries, ½-1″ long. Grow in a shrub border or as specimen shrubs, evergreens are also suitable as a hedge.
Grow these generally vigorous and trouble free plants in fertile, well drained soil, ideally in full sun, although evergreen will grow well in partial shade. All tolerate dry soil and coastal winds, but may become chlorotic on shallow, alkaline soil
Prone to cankers, dagger nematodes, dieback, rust, fungal leaf spots, and root rot.
E. angustifolia ‘Red King’ – Oleaster – Russian Olive – This deciduous shrub or small tree grows 20-30′ feet tall and wide. From spreading, red tinted, sometimes spiny branches, covered with silvery scales, and willow like lance shaped leaves, to 4″ long, dark green above, silvery scaly beneath. In late spring and early summer it bears cluster of fragrant, pale yellow flowers, to ½” long, followed in autumn by edible bright, rust-red fruit also coated in silver scales.
Zones 2-8
