Elaeagnus x ebbingei 'Viveleg' OLIVE MARTINI™

Evergreen silverthorn is a natural hybrid of e. macrophylla with large, evergreen, rather rounded leaves and vigorously growing e. pungens with narrower foliage and thorns. It is sometimes called Russian olive which is not correct as this name is already used for its deciduous sister e. angustifolia. It is described to have been discovered by a Dutch horticulturist Simon Doorenbos (1891-1980) who named it after another Dutch botanist J.W.E. Ebbinge in 1929. However, many years later it was pointed out that a Swiss botanist Camille Servettaz (1870-1947) found this mutation, too, and named it elaeagnus x submacrophylla already in 1909. In spite of that, the whole horticultural world still sticks to e. x ebbingei and we do, too, if you don’t mind.

Viveleg silverthorn is a bushy, upright growing, evergreen shrub with irregularly variegated leaves. They are leathery, oval to ovate, partially undulated, and glossy. The centres are dark green, the margins are rich yellow, and the borderline between these two colours is light green but is not present on all leaves. Newly emerging leaves are silvery-beige. Twigs are orange-brown and the colder weather comes in autumn the deeper the colour gets.

Apart from the foliage this plant is also interesting for its almost invisible but very fragrant flowers. They are tiny and appear from late summer to early autumn. They have a lovely, sweet perfume that is distributed especially on sunny and warm afternoons and evenings. They are followed by edible fruit in spring. About 1,5cm long, oval fruit is deep red and taste like sweeter dark cherries. It is best to let them ripen well which is when they begin to fall. The plant can hold the fruit only after mild winters.

Viveleg silverthorn is a fast and vigorous grower but compared with its closest variety Gilt Edge its keeps an upright, almost uniform vase shape. You can prune it almost any time from spring till autumn. It is soil adaptable but needs mulching in our climate to protect surface roots from heavy frost. We suggest planting it in winter shade in colder regions. Even after severe frosts it re-sprouts from healthy wood and makes long new branches. It will not live in boggy and wet conditions. Hardy to about -23°C (USDA zone 6). In frost-free periods provide extra watering on days when the ground is not frozen.

Last update 04-03-2014; 05-02-2019