Woody > Elaeagnus > Elaeagnus pungens > Elaeagnus pungens
Elaeagnus pungens
Common Silverthorn, Thorny Olive
Origin: Native to China and Japan.
Mike's
Opinion
"
A very hardy, low maintenance and thorny plant which produces a cluster of creamy white flowers which emit a strong, cherry like fragrance. Its red, juicy berries are rich antioxidants when ripe.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Elaeagnaceae |
| Genus |
| Elaeagnus |
| Species |
| pungens |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Shrub (evergreen) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 7 - 9 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 6b |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H6 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-15) - (-1) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 5 - 30 |
| Height |
| 3-6 m |
| Spread |
| 3-6 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| A very hardy shrub that contains thorns and small flowers which produce a very strong fragrance. |
| Landscape |
| Can be used as a formal hedge when pruned and maintained or an informal hedge due to its thorny nature. Used for highway planting due to its high salt tolerance and also controlling erosion. Potentially an invasive species. |
| Cultivation |
| Fully hardy, grows best in well-drained soils, drought resistant and can grow in full/partial sun and full shade. |
| Shape |
| Pointy, informal stems that progress to form a symmetrical mound with age. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| Foliage is shiny green; branches contain ‘thorn’ like stems and noticeably scented flowers. |
| Pests |
| Canker and dagger nematode. |
| Habitat |
| Found along hillsides and thickets, on highway shoulders and naturalized in areas up to 1,000 m and in lowlands near the sea. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Scaly, reddish brown, smooth texture when young and small orange lenticels, developing splits and cracks with age. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Small, round and silvery-brown covered with 4 loose scales. |
| Leaf Description |
| 5-10 cm in length, 2.5 cm wide, evergreen, oval, simple, alternate leaves, with a scaly, shiny wax like colour on top and a scaly, silvery underside. |
| Flower Description |
| 6 cm long, bell shaped, cream colour, clusters form where the leaf meets the stem, uninteresting but produce a strong scent. |
| Fruit Description |
| 1-2 cm, oval, red colour with silvery scales, contains sweet, juicy beneficial vitamins to humans, ripen in late spring to early summer. |
| Colour Description |
| Shiny green foliage with a silvery underside year round, with a white/creamy flower producing in Spring and dying off by winter months. Bark is a reddish brown with horizontal lenticels year round, and a red fruit with distinct silvery scales being produced in spring and dropping off by winter. |
| Texture Description |
| Medium texture throughout seasons. |
| Propagation |
| Seed will germinate within 4 weeks to 8 months. In order to stratify the seed it must be kept warm for 4 weeks, followed by 12 weeks cold stratification. Cuttings are best taken in June, remove 7-10 cm with a heel and place into a frame. Layering is best done in September/October and it may take 12 months for a wound to heal over. |
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