Elaeagnus x ebbingei 'ELEADOR^®'

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.

Eleador^® is a new, patented variety with almost yellow leaves, margined dark green with lighter green highlights. They are leathery, but thinner than on e.g. cherry laurels. The undersides are silvery grey.

Tiny flowers appear in late summer, early autumn and are hard to see unless you look up close. But you can definitely smell them. They have a lovely, sweet fragrance, especially in the evening. They are followed by fruit in spring. 1,5cm long, oval fruit is deep red and taste like dark cherries. It is best to let them ripen well which is when it begins to fall.

Silverthorn is a fast and vigorous grower. You can prune it almost any time from spring till autumn. It is soil adaptable but needs mulching in our climate to protect surface roots from heavy frost. We suggest planting it in winter shade to eliminate winter sun scald. Even after severe frosts it re-sprouts from healthy wood and makes long new branches. It will not live in boggy and wet conditions. Hardy to min. -22°C.

Last update 04-02-2008; 25-01-2012