Silverberry
Elaeagnus, family Elaeagnaceae
A shrub or small tree with silvery leaves and fragrant, petal-less flowers
Elaeagnus is a genus of about 90 flowering shrubs and small trees. Many have silvery-scaled leaves, small fragrant flowers without petals, and edible drupes. Several species are grown for fruit or ornament, while others have become invasive outside their native range.
- Flowers have no petals but are often strongly fragrant
- Leaves and shoots covered in silvery or brownish scales
- Fruit is an edible drupe in many species
- Roots host nitrogen-fixing microbes
- Some species are invasive outside native Asia
What does Silverberry look like?
Elaeagnus plants are shrubs or small trees that may lose their leaves or keep them year-round. Their leaves and young stems carry tiny silvery or brownish scales, making the whole plant look pale grey or whitish from afar. The flowers are small, lack petals, and have a four-part calyx; many give off a strong scent. The fruit is a fleshy drupe with one seed and is edible in several species.
Where does Silverberry come from?
The genus Elaeagnus was named by Carl Linnaeus in 1754, drawing on an Ancient Greek term combining 'olive' and a word meaning 'pure' or 'chaste'. Most species originate in temperate and subtropical parts of Asia. A few occur naturally in North America, the Philippines, and northeastern Australia. One Asian species may also be native to southeastern Europe, though it might have been introduced there long ago.
When and how Silverberry blooms
These plants bloom with small, fragrant flowers that have no petals. They grow in various climates and soils, aided by nitrogen-fixing microbes in their roots, which let them thrive where other plants struggle. Many are cultivated as ornamentals for their striking foliage, sometimes variegated, and some for their tart, edible fruit. Numerous cultivars and hybrids exist in gardens.
How Silverberry is used
People grow Elaeagnus for its fruit, which is sour and slightly astringent but suitable for tarts, and for its attractive foliage in gardens and landscapes. Some species are valued as windbreaks or for soil improvement due to their nitrogen-fixing ability. However, certain types have spread aggressively outside their native range and are classed as invasive or noxious weeds in places like the United States.
Kinds of Silverberry
Notable cultivated species include E. angustifolia, E. umbellata (which contains lycopene), E. multiflora (gumi), E. pungens, and E. commutata. Hybrids such as E. × submacrophylla and E. × reflexa are also grown. The hybrid E. × submacrophylla and the 'Gilt Edge' cultivar have received recognition for garden performance.
What Silverberry means
While not tied to specific religious rites, Elaeagnus has ecological importance: its thorny thickets offer bird nesting sites, and its leaves feed moth larvae like Coleophora elaeagnisella. Its ability to fix nitrogen makes it useful in poor soils but also contributes to invasiveness. In some U.S. regions, species like E. pungens and E. umbellata are listed as category II invasive plants.
Where Silverberry is used and seen
Questions people ask about Silverberry
Where does Elaeagnus come from?
Most species are native to temperate and subtropical Asia. Others occur naturally in North America, the Philippines, and northeastern Australia.
What do the flowers look like?
The flowers are small, lack petals, and have a four-lobed calyx. Many are fragrant despite their simple structure.
Is the fruit edible?
Yes, the fleshy drupe is edible in many species. It tastes acidic and somewhat astringent, and is used in tarts.
Why is it considered invasive in some places?
Its nitrogen-fixing roots let it grow in poor soils, giving it an edge over native plants. Some species spread aggressively and are listed as noxious weeds.
What is it used for in gardens?
It is grown for its showy, often variegated foliage and sometimes for its fruit. It tolerates tough conditions and improves soil fertility.
Good reading and sources
- Elaeagnus × submacrophyllaRoyal Horticultural Society, Article
- USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Elaeagnus", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryPhool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.
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