Common name: Silverberry

Description: Elaeagnus x ebbingei is an exceptionally versatile, vigorous evergreen shrub with attractive, leathery leaves that are dark green above and silvery beneath. In autumn, it produces small but intensely fragrant tubular white flowers that fill the garden with a sweet, exotic scent, followed by small red berries in spring. Fast-growing and adaptable, it is one of the best shrubs for windbreak hedging and screening, tolerating coastal exposure, pollution, and dry soils. It provides year-round structure and is extremely low maintenance once established.

Other benefits: highly fragrant autumn flowers, excellent windbreak and hedging, very tolerant and low maintenance

Wildlife attraction: bees are strongly attracted to the fragrant flowers; birds eat the berries

Height & spread (approx.) at 10 years: 3m x 3m

Position: full sun to partial shade

Soil pH: neutral to slightly alkaline; adaptable

Moisture: well-drained; drought tolerant once established

Winter hardiness: cold hardy to -15°C