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 or small tree 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 the weather comes in autumn the deeper the colour gets.

Apart from its attractive foliage evergreen silverthorn is also interesting for its almost invisible but very fragrant flowers. They are tiny and appear from late summer to early autumn. Their sweet perfume is distributed especially on sunny and warm afternoons and evenings. Pollinated flowers 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 ripen well which is when it begins to fall. The plant can hold the fruit only after mild winters.

Evergreen silverthorn is also demanded as a standard tree which offers an instant and evergreen screening that blocks the unwanted views from neighbouring windows. It also serves as a handsome, small, specimen, evergreen tree if regularly trimmed. Viveleg silverthorn is a fast and vigorous grower (30-70 cm per year) but compared with e.g. Gilt Edge variety it keeps an upright and almost uniform vase shape and denser habit.

Pruning and shaping can be done it in almost any manner from early spring until late summer. It is soil adaptable but needs mulching in our climate to protect surface roots from deep frost. In colder regions we suggest planting it in winter shade. 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 min. -23°C (USDA zone 6) and possibly a few degrees lower with some leaf damage. In frost-free periods provide extra watering on days when the ground is not frozen. Standard trees need good support for at least 3 years from transplanting, just remove the bamboo stick which is commonly attached to the tree when sold.

Last update 09-01-2021