Elaeagnus macrophylla Seeds | Broad-leaved Elaeagnus
LATIN NAME: Elaeagnus macrophylla
COMMON NAME: Broad-Leaved Elaeagnus
Plant Profile
Broad-Leaved Elaeagnus (Elaeagnus macrophylla) grows as an evergreen shrub in the oleaster family, native to warm places of the eastern Asia, while it is grown as a treasured shrub. In oleaster family it is silvery-leaved, nitrogen-fixing shrub of warm places, a plant that feeds soil as it feeds the birds. In good conditions it grows to around Three metres. For the gardener, the sum of these traits is a plant that is easy to live with.
Science & Biotechnology
As part of the oleaster family, Elaeagnus macrophylla contributes to research on plant classification and adaptation, while nurseries and gardeners continue to trial it for cultivation. Broad-leaved elaeagnus has a recognised place in plant-science papers on nitrogen-fixing shrubs, and quiet partnership between its roots and soil bacteria has kept ecologists interested for years. Modern propagation practice has made this species straightforward to raise by ordinary good methods.
Uses & Benefits
Broad-Leaved Elaeagnus brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. In coastal garden, broad-leaved elaeagnus is silvery shrub that thrives where others struggle. Its small, fragrant flowers feed bees of autumn, its sweet fruits feed birds, and dense, silvery, evergreen growth gives cover and shelter through the year. Small, sweet fruits are enjoyed as a fine fruit of region, and shrub grows well in sandy, well-drained, sunny ground. Thereafter it wants only the ordinary attentions any garden plant receives.
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
Raising Broad-Leaved Elaeagnus from seed is straightforward. Use a loose, well-drained seed compost, sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly, and keep everything evenly moist in bright light. Prick the seedlings out once they are large enough to handle, grow them on in bright light, and plant out when conditions allow.
Our Take
It forms an evergreen shrub, which makes spacing and siting straightforward. Broad-Leaved Elaeagnus settles in quickly once it finds its footing. Its wants are few — a sunny spot, soil that drains, and time to settle in.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Broad-Leaved Elaeagnus often pair it with these related subjects: