Elaeagnus umbellata

Elaeagnus umbellata (autumn olive) is a shade-intolerant pioneer species that is found in the dunes of China, Korea and Japan and in the Himalayas. Swedish botanist Thunberg described Elaeagnus umbellata in 1784 and the first plants were introduced in England in 1830. The autumn olive becomes a densely branched, substantial shrub or small tree with decoratively overhanging branches, two to five metres tall and wide.

The autumn olive blooms in April and May with pleasant sweetly scented, cream-coloured flowers which look like cloves. They grow in bundles of up to seven in the leaf axils of short twigs and bumblebees and bees love them. After pollination numerous red berries are produced in September and October. These have a tart sweet taste and are very healthy. The berries need to be ripe however, otherwise they taste bitter. The autumn olive is not self-pollinating. The decorative brown twigs are full of scales and star-patterned hairs and often have thorns.  The elegant grey green, oval to oblong, alternate leaves of Elaeagnus umbellata are simple and smooth edged.

Because of the salt tolerance, preference for warm, dry and sunny growing spots and great hardiness, Elaeagnus umbellata is often planted in Japan and the Unites States to prevent erosion. The autumn olive grows on any normal soil that is not too wet or too heavy. Established plants are very drought-resistant. Elaeagnus umbellata also takes care of its own nitrogen supply since the roots fix nitrogen from the air with the aid of actinomycetes.  In the southern United States, the species has the reputation of being invasive because of suckering. In cooler climates the shrub does not display any real tendency to sucker. The shrub has an elegant grey appearance overall but less marked than Elaeagnus angustifolia. It is used in public spaces and in food forests but can also provide added value as a shrub and even as a hedge in gardens