Elaeagnus multiflora

A highly valuable, resistant and undemanding shrub recommended for all types of house gardens. Well-adjusted to urban conditions.

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE: Leaves lanceolate, their top side dark green, matt, bottom side silver-white, shiny with brown spots. Flowers smallish (1 cm across), numerous, pale yellow with a long tube, fragrant and melliferous. In bloom at the end of IV and V.  Fruit edible, nutritious, tasty, sweet-sour, oblong (1.5 cm), dark red on long pedicles.

HOW IT GROWS: shrub of a wide-spreading, irregular habit. Reaches 3 m height; grows slowly (0.5 m a year).

WHERE TO PLANT: No special requirements. Thrives in sunny and warm spots, in well-drained soil of slightly acidic or alkaline pH. Withstands draughts. Sufficiently frost hardy (zone 6–9).

HOW TO PLANT AND MAINTAIN: Before planting immerse the plant container in water for 10-30 min.  Place the root ball in a 60 x 60 x 60 cm hole with a 10 cm layer of well-rotten manure. Fill the hole with fertile compost soil. Flatten the earth around the plant and cover with bark mulch. Place the root ball as deep as it was in the container. Fertilize from April and water adequately during growing season. The shrub does not require regular pruning. A light pruning can be performed once the plant thickens after a couple of seasons. Excessive pruning limits the fruitification.

HOW TO APPLY: An all-purpose plant suitable for house gardens and park settings. Very well-adjusted to urban conditions. The fruit contain fatty acids, microelements, vitamins A, C, E as well as amino acids. They’re also a source of lycopene – a substance of health-promoting properties.

ORIGIN: Japan