Elaeagnus commutata

Silverberry is a deciduous shrub species that grows up to 5 m in height. This plant may also be known by the common name Wolf Willow. The bark is slightly rust coloured. The leaves are alternately arranged, lance to elliptic shaped, silvery green coloured, have entire margins, and covered in small hairs, making them feel scaly on both surfaces. The flowers are small, yellow coloured on the inside, silvery green coloured on the outside, have four triangular shaped, petal-like sepals, are fragrant, and bloom between June and July. The fruit are small, round, silverish green coloured berries. This plant spreads well and can form small colonies. The roots can useful for controlling erosion and stabilizing shorelines. The roots also contain nitrogen fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for the plant. The berries are beneficial to wildlife species, like birds and small mammals.

Silverberry grows best in moist to wet conditions with full or partial sun exposure. It prefers sand and clay but can grow in a variety of soil types. It is tolerant of drought, alkalinity, and poor, infertile soil. This shrub can be naturally found in prairies, fields and meadows, forest edges, and along river or lake shorelines.

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Scientific Name: Elaeagnus commutata
Type: Shrub
Height: 5 m
Spread: 2 m
Moisture Level: moist, wet
Light Conditions: full sun, part sun
Soil Conditions: sand, clay, loam, rocky
Zone (Hardiness of Canada):