Elaeagnus conferta Seeds | Bastard Oleaster
LATIN NAME: Elaeagnus conferta
COMMON NAME: Bastard Oleaster, Dense-Flowered Oleaster
Plant Profile
Bastard Oleaster (Elaeagnus conferta) is a shrub in the oleaster family, native to warm hills of the himalaya and nearby lands, while it is grown for its silvery foliage, its fragrant flowers. Bastard oleaster is a handsome and generous shrub of warm hills, and it is a cousin of olive that gives a fine show of silvery leaves and sweet, edible fruit. At maturity it stands about Four metres. Bees find the flowers quickly, and that pollinator traffic is a garden benefit in its own right. Gardeners value it precisely for this blend of qualities.
Science & Biotechnology
Elaeagnus conferta sits in the oleaster family, a group that keeps botanists, horticulturists and plant breeders busy with questions of classification, adaptation and ornamental potential. Basket elaeagnus is of real interest in both food and ecological research. The practical point for growers is that this plant has been observed in gardens for so long that its behaviour holds few surprises.
Uses & Benefits
Bastard Oleaster brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. Ecologically, basket elaeagnus is a benefactor. It fixes nitrogen and enriches soil, its flowers feed bees and other pollinators, and its heavy crops of fruit feed birds and wildlife through the season. Its economic value is real and varied. Getting it going is easy; keeping it going is easier still.
Autumn olives and their kin bear lycopene-rich edible berries, fix their own nitrogen, and appear in folk medicine as astringent fruit remedies; they are among the most useful plants for edible landscaping.
Growing from Seed
Starting Bastard Oleaster from seed is simple and satisfying. Growing basket elaeagnus from seed is easy and rewarding. Seeds sit inside ripe fruits, and they do well in warm, moist conditions. Sow on the surface of a gritty, well-drained mix, cover lightly with fine compost, and maintain gentle, even moisture in a sunny position. Move strong seedlings into individual pots, keep them in good light, and set them out when the weather and their size agree.
Our Take
As a shrub, it settles into a routine quickly once established. Even moisture while the seed is chitting is the main thing; afterwards it largely looks after itself.
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