Elaeagnus x ebbingei 'COASTAL GOLD'

Evergreen silverthorn is a natural hybrid of e. macrophylla with large, evergreen, rather rounded leaves and vigorously growing e. pungens with narrower foliage and thorns. It is sometimes called Russian olive which is not correct as this name is already used for its deciduous sister e. angustifolia. It is described to have been discovered by a Dutch horticulturist Simon Doorenbos (1891-1980) who named it after another Dutch botanist J.W.E. Ebbinge in 1929. However, many years later it was pointed out that a Swiss botanist Camille Servettaz (1870-1947) found this mutation, too, and named it elaeagnus x submacrophylla already in 1909. In spite of that, the whole horticultural world still sticks to e. x ebbingei and we do, too, if you don’t mind.

Coastal Gold is another showcase among evergreen silverthorns which originated just like its other variegated sisters – by natural mutation. Its evergreen leaves have dark green margins and rich yellow centres which occupy up to 80% of the surface. They are leathery and glossy. One might wonder why we need another yellow/green silverthorn having Limelight and Eleador already. Just take a close look at the leaves and you will see – they are much broader, and definitely not flat. They look like a bodybuilder's six-pack with slightly undulated margins. Newly emerging leaves are silvery-beige. Young twigs are orange-brown and the colder the weather in autumn the deeper the colour.

Coastal Gold silverthorn is a fast grower making 40-60 cm per year. It is both upright and spreading, however, young twigs are rather flexible and tend to bend giving the shrub a relaxed, slightly arching habit. In order to shape it or to keep it smaller you can prune it at almost any time from spring till autumn. It can take hard pruning, too.

Apart from the foliage this plant is also interesting for its almost invisible but very fragrant flowers. They are tiny and appear in profusion from late summer to early autumn. They have a lovely, sweet perfume that is distributed especially on sunny and warm afternoons and evenings. They are followed by an abundance of fruit in spring. About 1.5 cm long, oval fruit with a stone inside is deep red and tastes like a sweeter version of sour cherries. It is best to let them ripen well which is when they begin to fall down. The plant can hold the fruit only after mild winters.

Evergreen silverthorn is soil adaptable but needs mulching in our climate to protect surface roots from quick freezing and heavy frost. In colder regions we recommend planting it in winter shade. Still, even after severe frosts it regenerates from healthy wood and makes long branches. It will not live in boggy and wet conditions. It is hardy to min. -23 °C (USDA zone 6) and withstands a few degrees lower with some burnt foliage that is quickly replaced by late spring. During dry winters, in frost-free periods provide extra watering on days when the ground is not frozen.

Last update 05-02-2019; 19-11-2022