Silverberry
Elaeagnus commutata
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Elaeagnaceae
- Genus:
- Elaeagnus
- Species:
- Elaeagnus commutata
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub
- Height:
- 12-20 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun, jul
- Bloom Colors:
- Yellow
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Native Range
United States: Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, New York, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- tolerates poor soil conditions
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: For seeds, pre-treatments include cold moist stratification for 30-90 days or a 48-hour running water rinse followed by a 60-day cold moist stratification. For cuttings, trim to a 6-8 inch length, remove all buds, leaves, and branches from the basal 2-3 inches, remove all flowers and fruit, recut the base at an angle, wound the basal end, dip in a broad spectrum fungicide, and insert the base into a rooting compound containing 3,000-5,000 ppm of IBA.
Establishment: Germination rates and times can vary depending on the specific protocol used. Some protocols recommend fall sowing in the field as a substitute for the cold, moist treatment. For cuttings, rooting quality was excellent with a 75% success rate.
Source: npn.rngr.net