Description

Eleagnus

Eleagnus is a genus of about 45 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs and small trees, often fast-growing and with spiny stems. The leaves are alternate, simple, lanceolate to ovate to oblong, often having minutely silvery or brown scales, especially below. Flowers are small, often fragrant, without petals, 4-lobed petaloid calyx. The fruit is a small berry, often edible.

Here are some additional benefits of Elaeagnus:

• They are drought-tolerant, so they require little water.
• They are salt-tolerant, so they can be planted in coastal areas.
• They are deer-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about them being eaten by deer.
• They are attractive to pollinators, such as bees and butterflies.
• They are edible, so you can eat the berries.

If you are thinking about adding Elaeagnus to your landscape, here are some things to keep in mind:

• They prefer full sun, but they can tolerate partial shade.
• They are not fussy about soil type, but they prefer well-drained soil.

They are relatively low-maintenance, but they should be pruned in the spring to keep them in shape.