Elaeagnus multiflora
| Scientific name | Elaeagnus multiflora [1] |
|---|---|
| Common names | Goumi, gumi, cherry elaeagnus, cherry silverberry, natsugumi |
| Family | Elaeagnaceae |
| Genus | Elaeagnus |
| Order | Rosales |
| Habit | Deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub or small tree; broad descriptions give about 2–8 m, while a horticultural database lists plants near 3 m. [2] [3] |
| Native range | China, Korea, Japan, and the Russian Far East [2] |
| Flowering | Mid-spring; April–May is reported for one horticultural database [2] [3] |
| Fruit season | Mid- to late summer; July seed ripening is reported for one horticultural database [2] [3] |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5–9 as listed by PFAF; local performance depends on exposure and establishment. [3] |
| Years to fruit | Most seedlings are reported to begin bearing in the fourth year after planting; a separate database gives a four-year crop claim from cuttings. [4] [3] |
| Elaeagnus multiflora in a botanical garden in Batumi | |
Elaeagnus multiflora, commonly called goumi or cherry silverberry, is a deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub or small tree native to China, Korea, Japan, and the Russian Far East. Its leaves carry the silvery scaling typical of the genus, and fragrant spring flowers are followed by small red drupes marked with silver or brown dots. [2]
Description[edit | edit source]
Plants are described from about 2 to 8 m tall, while horticultural summaries commonly list a shrub near 3 m. The foliage is silvery-scaled, and fragrant flowers are produced in spring. The round to oval drupe is about 1 cm long, ripens red, and may show silver or brown dots. Ripe fruit has a fragile skin. [2] [3]
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Soil and water[edit | edit source]
In its native range, goumi occurs in thickets and thin woods on hills and lowlands, including sites from about 600 to 1800 m. It is also described in cultivation references as tolerating dry, sandy, nutrient-poor, or clay soils when drainage is adequate. [3] The species forms a nitrogen-fixing association with Frankia or related actinomycetes, a trait associated with establishment on relatively poor soils. [2] [4] Plant it where excess water can drain rather than turning the ecological association into a fixed fertilizer or irrigation schedule.
PFAF describes a multistemmed habit and branching heart-root pattern. That description is useful when choosing a planting position, but it does not establish how well an older plant tolerates root disturbance or root pruning. [3]
Sun and humidity[edit | edit source]
Thicket and thin-wood habitat includes open edges as well as partial cover. A site with strong light, good airflow, and protection from stagnant wetness is a reasonable starting point; this is a habitat-based cultivation inference, not a measured shade or humidity threshold. [3] Silvery foliage and reported drought tolerance support attention to exposure and drainage, but do not define a fixed watering interval. [4]
Seasonal changes[edit | edit source]
The seasonal sequence is spring flowering followed by red fruit ripening in mid- to late summer. PFAF places flowering in April–May and seed ripening in July, while broader descriptions place fruit maturity in mid- to late summer. [2] [3] In a temperate planting, watch the spring bloom and then inspect developing drupes through summer; the calendar will shift with climate, exposure, genotype, and establishment. The review describes drought resistance and long site persistence, but neither point supplies a universal dry-season watering schedule. [4]
Propagation[edit | edit source]
PFAF gives several propagation routes. Sow ripe seed in a cold frame; germination can be prolonged, potentially taking as long as 18 months. The same guidance describes four weeks of warm stratification followed by 12 weeks of cold stratification as a possible aid. [3] These timings are starting points rather than guarantees, so keep seed lots and treatment dates identified when comparing results.
For vegetative propagation, PFAF lists half-ripe heel cuttings of 7–10 cm in July or August, mature current-year heel cuttings of 10–12 cm in November, and layering in September or October. Seedlings are described as being potted on and planted out at at least 15 cm. [3] The reported methods provide practical starting protocols, but rooting percentage and transplant response can vary with material, season, and aftercare.
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest[edit | edit source]
The fragrant flowers are described as hermaphroditic, bee-pollinated, and self-fertile, so one plant can set fruit; self-fertility does not guarantee equal crops at every site. [3] Commercial guidance summarized in the review uses 4 × 2 m spacing, while actual spacing should allow for the plant's multistemmed habit and the intended pruning system. [4]
Most seedlings in the review begin bearing in the fourth year after planting, and PFAF separately gives a four-year crop claim from cuttings. These are qualified establishment references rather than a guaranteed bearing age for every genotype or climate. [4] [3]
The small round to oval drupes ripen red, often with silver or brown dots, in mid- to late summer. Harvest when the fruit has reached mature red color and handle it gently because the skin is fragile. [2]
Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]
Ripe goumi fruit is juicy and may be sweet, sour, or astringent. It is eaten fresh and used for processing; fragile skin favors careful handling after harvest. [2] [3] Fruit quality and yield vary among genetic biotypes and with cultivation conditions and growing-season climate, so measurements from one named biotype should not be generalized to the species. [4]
Photos[edit | edit source]
Cherry silverberry blooming in Chantilly, Virginia
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ [2] Elaeagnus multiflora.
- ↑ [4] The Bioactive Profile, Nutritional Value, Health Benefits and Agronomic Requirements of Cherry Silverberry (Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb.): A Review.
Image credits[edit | edit source]
- Elaeagnus multiflora kz5.jpg: subject, Elaeagnus multiflora in a botanical garden in Batumi; creator Krzysztof Ziarnek (Kenraiz); CC BY-SA 4.0; individual file page.
- 2019-04-21 19 17 56 A Cherry Silverberry blooming along Centreville Road in the Armfield Farm section of Chantilly, Fairfax County, Virginia.jpg: subject, cherry silverberry in bloom in Chantilly, Virginia; creator Famartin; CC BY-SA 4.0; individual file page.
