Description

Eleagnus

Eleagnus is a versatile plant renowned for its glossy foliage, ornamental appeal, and hardiness in a range of garden conditions. Whether used as a screening shrub, a focal point, or a decorative hedge, Eleagnus adds texture, year-round interest, and a touch of natural elegance to any landscape.

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 features of Eleagnus:

• Evergreen to semi-evergreen variety: Provides consistent color and structure through multiple seasons.
• Silver-underside foliage: Subtle, shimmering texture that catches the light and adds depth to your garden.
• Hardy and adaptable: Performs well in a variety of soils and climate zones with relatively low maintenance.
• Fragrant, small flowers in spring: Occasional blooms that enhance garden scent without overpowering nearby plantings
• 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.

Benefits

• Aesthetic appeal: Brighten borders, create lush screens, or serve as an attractive ground cover.
• Low maintenance: Moderate pruning needed to maintain shape; generally forgiving of light neglect.
• Privacy and windbreak: Dense growth habit provides effective screening in residential gardens.
• Wildlife-friendly: Produces berries and blossoms that attract pollinators and birds.
• Versatile applications: Suitable for hedges, specimen plants, or mixed borders.

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.