Soil improver

<p>3 root cuttings of different lengths and thicknesses, 3+ cm - taken from a perennial mother plant of the variety 'Bocking 14'</p> <p>Root cuttings from comfrey establish themselves with ease.</p> <p>Place the root cuttings in soil and cover with a 1-2 cm thick layer of soil. Suitable for planting both in pots and in open ground. Make sure to keep the soil moist. It is best to keep the root cuttings in partial shade until they have sprouted their first shoots; after that, you can move the comfrey to its final growing place, which has no special demands. It can take up to 2 months for root cuttings to produce their first shoots, but usually they appear already after 2-3 weeks. If you raise your plants indoors or in a greenhouse, it will be faster.</p> <p>'Bocking 14' is a sterile variety, which means it does not have the ability to produce and spread by seed. Propagation occurs only underground. This means that 'Bocking 14' together with 'Bocking 4' and others are not classified as invasive.</p> <p><strong>Common name:</strong> Comfrey 'Bocking 14'<br><strong>Scientific name:</strong> <em>Symphytum x uplandicum</em><br><strong>Family:</strong> Boraginaceae</p> <p><strong>History & use:</strong></p> <p>Comfrey has historically been a well-used plant in the treatment of various ailments. But above all, it is a very effective accumulator of nutrients, thus a good soil improver. Comfrey grows quickly and its roots are deep-reaching, giving the plant access to nutrients from deeper soil layers that are otherwise inaccessible to most plants. It is mainly minerals such as potassium and calcium that are stored in the leaves, but also magnesium, iron, phosphorus, manganese, and others.</p> <p>The leaves of comfrey can be cut down during the year and used as mulch, or alternatively dug into the soil, to make the nutrients available to other plants. Comfrey leaves are well suited as fertilizer for fruit trees and berry bushes thanks to their content of potassium and phosphorus.</p> <p>Comfrey has a long growing season, from early winter to late autumn.</p> <p>If the leaves are not cut down before winter, they wither and similarly provide a nutrient boost to the soil they grow on. New leaves begin to grow on the plant immediately after the snow melts.</p> <p>You can also make your own fertilizer water from comfrey by filling a container with the leaves and then filling it with water to the brim. Let it stand for a couple of days and then mix the fertilizer water with 10 parts water to water the plants with.</p> <p>Effective as an edge plant by manure heaps to prevent nutrient leakage, but also as an edge plant around crops and other places where you do not want weed roots to spread. Comfrey’s dense root system becomes like an underground wall, making it difficult for other roots to get through.</p> <p>Comfrey creates an attractive environment for other plants in the cultivation – whether it is to attract pollinators or to serve as a natural fertilizer.</p> <p><strong>Cultivation:</strong></p> <p>Comfrey is a herbaceous perennial. It thus remains in place even after the leaves have withered during winter.</p> <p>It is an incredibly easy-care plant and is tolerant in choice of growing place. It can grow in shade as well as wet soils and is therefore an effective component in flooded and waterlogged soils.</p> <p>It also thrives well in drier soils in sunny places, although it prefers a somewhat moist environment.</p> <p><strong>Characteristics:</strong></p> <p>Longevity: Perennial<br>Light: shade/partial shade/sun<br>Height: 50-180 cm<br>Hardiness zone: 1-6</p>

<p>Silk tree in various sizes:</p> <ul> <li>Height 80-100 cm</li> <li>Height 140-160 cm <meta charset="utf-8">[PICKUP ONLY] </li> <li>Height 175-200 cm [PICKUP ONLY] </li> </ul> <p><strong>Common names:</strong> Silk tree, Persian Silk Tree, Pink Silk Tree, Tree of Happiness, Mimosa<strong><br>Scientific name:</strong><em> Albizia julibrissin<br></em><strong>Family:</strong> Fabaceae</p> <p><strong>Plant history &amp; use:</strong></p> <p>The silk tree is a striking tree whose origin can be traced to the area around Iran &amp; Azerbaijan through China, to Korea. The tree is characterized by its fluffy, light pink flowers that resemble a silky feather crown. Its beauty has made it a cherished tree worldwide.</p> <p>The silk tree has also been used for its edible and medicinal properties for centuries. Young leaves are eaten as a vegetable - boiled or steamed. They are described as having an aromatic taste. Flowers are also boiled for consumption. A historically well-known kitchen plant in its native regions.</p> <p><meta charset="utf-8">The plant’s bark, leaves, flowers &amp; flower buds are used to make tea and extracts with reputed health benefits. Flowers are harvested when opening and the bark is harvested in spring or late summer to be dried for later use.</p> <p>Tea made from the flowers is said to have a delicate, sweet taste and to relieve stress, tension, and even mild depression. This is likely one of the reasons the tree is also called "The Tree of Happiness." Please judge for yourself if this holds true for you.</p> <p>It is also possible to make jelly from freshly opened flowers.</p> <p>In traditional Asian medicine, it has been used among other things to calm nerves and as a mild sedative for sleep difficulties.</p> <p>Flowers have been observed to be effective in attracting bees &amp; butterflies (and hummingbirds in America).<br><meta charset="utf-8"></p> <p>This tree, like other plants in the Pea family (Fabaceae), has a partnership with soil bacteria that bind nitrogen from the air and fix it to the tree’s roots. In this way, the surrounding soil is enriched with nitrogen that would otherwise be inaccessible to plants – therefore we call plants with such a partnership <em>Soil Improvers</em>.</p> <p>The wood is also used to make furniture.</p> <p><strong>Cultivation:</strong></p> <p>The silk tree can be grown outdoors in the more favorable places in Sweden (roughly from Uppsala and southwards according to plant hardiness zones). <meta charset="utf-8">However, the tree is hardy down to -25<meta charset="utf-8"><span>°C, so the geographical location is often ambiguous and success largely depends on the actual growing site. It thrives best in warm and sunny places – a good spot is sheltered from wind against a south-facing wall.</span></p> <p>Young shoots can be sensitive to cold and frost. Please protect the tree during winter if grown outdoors, for example with straw around the base and wind protection in the form of fleece attached to stakes around the tree if it stands in an exposed location. This is reasonably only necessary the first winter after purchasing these 2-year-old trees.</p> <p><meta charset="utf-8"><span>The silk tree can otherwise</span> be grown in a pot that is overwintered in a sheltered place.</p> <p><meta charset="utf-8">The silk tree is a fast-growing tree with a relatively low water need that can stand in direct sun. The tree prefers well-drained soil and moderate watering. More precisely: water deeply but infrequently to encourage faster growth. Fairly drought-tolerant.</p> <p>Tolerant to pruning. Can be shaped to grow close to a house wall, for example. Pruning is done in late winter or early spring.</p> <p><strong>Characteristics:</strong></p> <p>Longevity: Perennial<br>Light: sun<br>Height: 5-7 m<br>Hardiness zone: 1-4</p>

<p>Comfrey plant - plants taken from a perennial mother plant of the variety 'Bocking 14' (naturally propagated through root divisions)</p> <p>'Bocking 14' is a sterile variety, which means it does not have the ability to produce and spread by seed. Propagation occurs only underground. This means that 'Bocking 14' together with 'Bocking 4' and others are not classified as invasive.</p> <p><strong>Common name:</strong> Comfrey 'Bocking 14'<br><strong>Scientific name:</strong> <em>Symphytum x uplandicum</em><br><strong>Family:</strong> Boraginaceae</p> <p><strong>Growth history & use:</strong></p> <p>Comfrey has historically been a well-used plant in the treatment of various ailments. But above all, it is a very effective accumulator of nutrients, meaning a good soil improver. Comfrey grows quickly and its roots are deep-reaching, giving the plant access to nutrients from deeper soil layers that are otherwise inaccessible to most plants. It is mainly minerals such as potassium and calcium that are stored in the leaves, but also magnesium, iron, phosphorus, manganese, and others.</p> <p>The leaves of comfrey can be cut down during the year and used as mulch, or alternatively dug into the soil, to make the nutrients available to other plants. Comfrey leaves are well suited as fertilizer for fruit trees and berry bushes thanks to their content of potassium and phosphorus.</p> <p>Comfrey has a long growing season, from early winter to late autumn.</p> <p>If the leaves are not cut down before winter, they wither and similarly provide a nutrient boost to the soil they grow on. New leaves begin to grow on the plant immediately after the snow melts.</p> <p>You can also make your own liquid fertilizer from comfrey by filling a container with the leaves and then filling it with water to the top. Let it stand for a couple of days and then mix the fertilizer water with 10 parts water to water the plants with.</p> <p>Effective as an edge plant by manure heaps to prevent nutrient leakage, but also as an edge plant around crops and other places where you do not want weed roots to spread. Comfrey’s dense root system acts like an underground wall, making it difficult for other roots to penetrate.</p> <p>Comfrey creates an attractive environment for other plants in the cultivation – whether it is to attract pollinators or to serve as a natural fertilizer.</p> <p><strong>Cultivation:</strong></p> <p>Comfrey is a herbaceous perennial. It thus remains in place even after the leaves have withered during winter.</p> <p>It is an extremely easy-care plant and is tolerant in choice of growing site. It can grow in shade as well as wet soils and is therefore an effective component in flooded and waterlogged soils.</p> <p>It also thrives well in drier soils in sunny places, although it prefers a somewhat moist environment.</p> <p><strong>Characteristics:</strong></p> <p>Longevity: Perennial<br>Light conditions: shade/partial shade/sun<br>Height: 50-180 cm<br>Hardiness zone: 1-6</p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8"><strong>Yellow Goumi / Korean Silverbush Pointilla® 'Fortunella': current height 80–120 cm</strong></p> <p>2 individuals recommended for good pollination</p> <p><strong></strong><strong>Common name:</strong> Yellow Goumi, Korean Silverbush<br><strong>Scientific name:</strong> <em>Elaeagnus umbellata</em><br><strong>Family:</strong> Elaeagnaceae</p> <h4>Plant history & use</h4> <p>'Fortunella' is an unusual variety of goumi with decorative, yellow-orange berries that have a fresh, sweet-tart taste. The berries are used fresh or for jam, jelly, juice, and wine. The plant has been cultivated in East Asia both as a useful plant and as a soil improver thanks to its ability to fix nitrogen.</p> <h4>Cultivation</h4> <p>Thrives in sun to partial shade in well-drained soil. Easy to grow, drought-resistant, and can be used as a windbreak or free-growing hedge.</p> <h4>Characteristics</h4> <p><strong>Life span:</strong> Perennial<br><strong>Growing position:</strong> Sun to partial shade<br><strong>Height:</strong> 2–4 meters<br><strong>Hardiness zone:</strong> 1–4</p>

<p data-mce-fragment="1">1st tree Tamarisk - current height: <br></p> <ul> <li data-mce-fragment="1">Height: 80-100 cm, Pot: C2</li> <li data-mce-fragment="1">Height: 90-110 cm, Pot: C4</li> </ul> <p data-mce-fragment="1"><strong data-mce-fragment="1">Common name:</strong> Tamarisk, Salt Cedar<strong data-mce-fragment="1"><br data-mce-fragment="1">Scientific name:</strong><em data-mce-fragment="1"> Tamarix tetrandra<br data-mce-fragment="1"></em><strong data-mce-fragment="1">Family:</strong> Tamaricaceae</p> <p data-mce-fragment="1"><strong data-mce-fragment="1">Plant history &amp; use:</strong></p> <p>The tamarisk is a striking tree with long flexible branches filled with plumes of pale pink flowers on bare twigs in late spring. The flowers then turn into small olive-green, scale-like leaves. </p> <p>The tamarisk is known for its ability to absorb and concentrate salts in its plant parts. This is useful where there is an outlet for greywater. Greywater is the water that comes out when we purify used water from our kitchens and bathrooms - for example dishwashers, washing machines, showers, etc. When this water is purified, various salts often remain and follow out in the drainage. It is in these outlets that plants like the tamarisk are planted, which appears to be one of the most effective plants at absorbing salt from the soil it grows in. The inability to absorb excess salts in the soil can cause problems for surrounding plants, as it affects their natural water uptake ability through osmosis.</p> <p><meta charset="utf-8">You can also grow the tamarisk as a shrub. If you do not shape it as a tree by pruning, it usually attains the structure of a shrub on its own.</p> <p>Well suited to grow in mixed hedges as it creates a striking impression with its bright, pale pink shades that lift the whole hedge.</p> <p>The branches are used for weaving baskets.</p> <p>Active in attracting pollinators.</p> <p data-mce-fragment="1"><strong data-mce-fragment="1">Cultivation:</strong></p> <p>Thrives best in open, sunny locations in well-drained soil. Preferably humus-rich and lightly sandy. Tolerant of most soils. Dislikes shallow and lime-rich soils.</p> <p><meta charset="utf-8">Resistant in coastal climates.</p> <p>Blooms on bare twigs in late spring - the flowers are then replaced by small olive-green leaves. </p> <p data-mce-fragment="1"><strong data-mce-fragment="1">Characteristics:</strong></p> <p data-mce-fragment="1">Lifespan: Perennial<br data-mce-fragment="1">Growing position: sun<br data-mce-fragment="1">Height: 2-4 m<br data-mce-fragment="1">Hardiness zone: 1-3</p>

<p><strong>Sea buckthorn of the self-fertile variety 'Friesdorfer Orange': current height 40–50 cm</strong></p> <p><meta charset="utf-8">Self-fertile variety = only 1 plant needed for fruit setting.<br><br><strong>Common names:</strong> Sea buckthorn, Sea thorn, Finnberry<br><strong>Scientific name:</strong> <em>Hippophae rhamnoides</em><br><strong>Family:</strong> Elaeagnaceae</p> <h4>History & use</h4> <p>'Friesdorfer Orange' is a high-yielding sea buckthorn variety with large, orange berries rich in vitamin C. The berries are used for juice, jam, marmalade, and oil.</p> <h4>Cultivation</h4> <p>Thrives in sunny, open locations in well-drained soil. Drought-resistant and hardy. Male and female plants are needed for berry production.</p> <h4>Characteristics</h4> <p><strong>Perennial:</strong> Perennial<br><strong>Growing site:</strong> Sun<br><strong>Height:</strong> 2–4 meters<br><strong>Hardiness zone:</strong> 1–6</p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8"><strong>Red Goumi / Korean Silverbush Pointilla® 'Sweet'N'Sour': current height 60–80 cm</strong></p> <p>2 plants recommended for good pollination</p> <p><strong></strong><strong>Common names:</strong> Red Goumi, Korean Silverbush<br><strong>Scientific name:</strong> <em>Elaeagnus umbellata</em><br><strong>Family:</strong> Elaeagnaceae</p> <h4>Plant history & use</h4> <p>Red goumi is a useful shrub native to East Asia. 'Sweet'N'Sour' produces abundant red berries with a fresh, tart flavor. The berries are used fresh, for jam, jelly, juice, and wine. The berries are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants.</p> <h4>Cultivation</h4> <p>Thrives in sun to partial shade in well-drained soil. Drought-resistant and hardy. Fixes nitrogen in the soil and improves the ground.</p> <h4>Characteristics</h4> <p><strong>Perennial:</strong> Perennial<br><strong>Growing position:</strong> Sun to partial shade<br><strong>Height:</strong> 2–4 meters<br><strong>Plant zone:</strong> 1–4</p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8"><strong>Red Goumi / Korean Silverberry Pointilla® 'Amoroso': current height 80–120 cm</strong></p> <p>2 plants recommended for good pollination</p> <p><strong></strong><strong>Common name:</strong> Red Goumi, Korean Silverberry<br><strong>Scientific name:</strong> <em>Elaeagnus umbellata</em><br><strong>Family:</strong> Elaeagnaceae</p> <h4>Plant history & use</h4> <p>'Amoroso' is a worthwhile cultivar of red goumi from East Asia. It produces abundant small, red berries that are both sweet and tart with a fresh taste. The berries are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants and can be eaten fresh or used for jam, jelly, juice, and wine. Red goumi has long been cultivated in Asia both as a useful plant and for its decorative value.</p> <h4>Cultivation</h4> <p>Thrives in sun to partial shade in well-drained soil. Drought-tolerant and easy-to-grow shrub that also improves the soil by fixing nitrogen. Can be used as a windbreak or a freely growing hedge.</p> <h4>Characteristics</h4> <p><strong>Perennial:</strong> Perennial<br><strong>Light conditions:</strong> Sun to partial shade<br><strong>Height:</strong> 2–4 meters<br><strong>Hardiness zone:</strong> 1–4</p>

<p data-mce-fragment="1">Silk tree of the variety 'Rosea'</p> <p data-mce-fragment="1"><strong data-mce-fragment="1">Common names:</strong> Silk tree, Persian Silk Tree, Pink Silk Tree, Tree of Happiness, Mimosa<strong data-mce-fragment="1"><br data-mce-fragment="1">Scientific name:</strong><em data-mce-fragment="1"> Albizia julibrissin<br data-mce-fragment="1"></em><strong data-mce-fragment="1">Family:</strong> Fabaceae</p> <p data-mce-fragment="1"><strong data-mce-fragment="1">Plant history & use:</strong></p> <p>The variety 'Rosea' has somewhat better hardiness than the common non-variety.</p> <p>The silk tree is a striking tree whose origin can be traced to the area around Iran & Azerbaijan through China to Korea. The tree is characterized by its fluffy, light pink flowers that resemble a silky feather crown. Its beauty has made it a cherished tree worldwide.</p> <p>The silk tree has also been used for its edible and medicinal properties for centuries. Young leaves are eaten as a vegetable – boiled or steamed. They are described as having an aromatic taste. Flowers are also boiled for consumption. A historically well-known kitchen plant in its native regions.</p> <p><meta charset="utf-8">The plant’s bark, leaves, flowers & flower buds are used to make tea and extracts with reputed health benefits. Flowers are harvested when opening and bark is harvested in spring or late summer to be dried for later use.</p> <p>Tea made from the flowers is said to have a delicate, sweet taste and to relieve stress, tension, and even mild depression. This is likely one of the reasons the tree is also called "The Tree of Happiness." Please judge for yourself if this applies to you.</p> <p>One can also make jelly from freshly opened flowers.</p> <p>In traditional Asian medicine, it has been used among other things to calm nerves and as a mild sedative for sleep difficulties.</p> <p>Flowers have been observed to be effective in attracting bees & butterflies (and hummingbirds in America).<br><meta charset="utf-8"></p> <p>This tree, like other plants in the Pea family (Fabaceae), has a partnership with soil bacteria that bind nitrogen from the air and fix it to the tree’s roots. In this way, the surrounding soil is enriched with nitrogen that would otherwise be inaccessible to plants – therefore we call plants with such a partnership <em>Soil Improvers</em>.</p> <p data-mce-fragment="1">The wood is also used to make furniture.</p> <p data-mce-fragment="1"><strong data-mce-fragment="1">Cultivation:</strong></p> <p>The silk tree can be grown outdoors in the more favorable places in Sweden (roughly from Uppsala and southwards according to plant zones). <meta charset="utf-8">However, the tree is hardy down to -25<meta charset="utf-8"><span data-mce-fragment="1">°C, so geographic location is often ambiguous and success largely depends on the actual growing site. </span><span data-mce-fragment="1">It</span> thrives best in warm and sunny places – a good spot is sheltered from wind against a south-facing wall.</p> <p>Young shoots can be sensitive to cold and frost. Please protect the tree during winter if you grow it outdoors, for example with straw around the base and wind protection in the form of fleece attached to stakes around the tree if it stands in an exposed location. This is reasonably only needed the first winter after purchase of these 2-year-old trees.</p> <p><meta charset="utf-8"><span data-mce-fragment="1">Otherwise, the silk tree can</span> be grown in a pot that is overwintered in a sheltered place.</p> <p><meta charset="utf-8">The silk tree is a fast-growing tree with a relatively low water need that can stand in direct sun. The tree prefers well-drained soil and moderate watering. More precisely: water deeply and infrequently to encourage faster growth. Fairly drought-tolerant.</p> <p>Tolerant of pruning. Can be shaped to grow close to a house wall, for example. Pruning is done in late winter or early spring.</p> <p data-mce-fragment="1"><strong data-mce-fragment="1">Characteristics:</strong></p> <p data-mce-fragment="1>Perennial<br data-mce-fragment="1">Light: sun<br data-mce-fragment="1">Height: 5-7 m<br data-mce-fragment="1">Plant zone: 1-4</p>

<p> 1 plant True Comfrey</p> <p data-mce-fragment="1"> <strong data-mce-fragment="1">Common name:</strong> Comfrey <strong data-mce-fragment="1"><br data-mce-fragment="1">Scientific name:</strong> <em data-mce-fragment="1">Symphytum officinale<br data-mce-fragment="1"></em> <strong data-mce-fragment="1">Family:</strong> Boraginaceae</p> <p data-mce-fragment="1"> <strong data-mce-fragment="1">Plant history &amp; use:</strong></p> <p data-mce-fragment="1"> Comfrey is historically a well-used plant in the treatment of various ailments. But above all, it is a very effective accumulator of nutrients, i.e. a good soil improver. Comfrey grows quickly and its roots are deep, which gives the plant access to nutrients from deeper soil layers that are otherwise inaccessible to most plants. It is mainly minerals such as potassium and calcium that are stored in the leaves, but also magnesium, iron, phosphorus, manganese, etc.</p> <p data-mce-fragment="1">The leaves of comfrey can be cut down throughout the year and used as mulch, or mixed into the soil to make the nutrients available to other plants. Comfrey leaves are good as fertilizer for fruit trees and berry bushes thanks to their potassium and phosphorus content.</p> <p data-mce-fragment="1"> Comfrey has a long growing season, from early winter to late autumn.</p> <p data-mce-fragment="1"> If the leaves are not cut down before winter, they will wither and provide nutrients to the soil they grow in. New leaves will start to grow on the plant immediately after the snow melts.</p> <p data-mce-fragment="1"> You can also make your own comfrey fertilizer by filling a container with the leaves and then filling it to the brim with water. Let it sit for a couple of days and then mix the fertilizer water with 10 parts water to water the plants.</p> <p data-mce-fragment="1">Effective as an edging plant around manure piles to prevent nutrient leakage, but also as an edging plant around crops and other places where you don't want rotograss to spread. Comfrey's dense root system acts like an underground wall, making it difficult for other roots to get through.</p> <p data-mce-fragment="1"> Comfrey creates an attractive environment for other plants in the garden - whether it's to attract pollinators or to act as a natural fertilizer.</p> <p data-mce-fragment="1"> <strong data-mce-fragment="1">Culture:</strong></p> <p data-mce-fragment="1"> Comfrey is a herbaceous perennial, meaning it continues to grow in the area even after the leaves have withered during the winter.</p> <p data-mce-fragment="1"> It is an extremely easy-care plant and is tolerant of site selection. It can grow in shade and wet soils, making it an effective component in flooded and waterlogged soils.</p> <p data-mce-fragment="1"> It also thrives well in drier soils in sunny locations, although it does best in a slightly moist environment.<strong data-mce-fragment="1"></strong></p> <p data-mce-fragment="1"><strong data-mce-fragment="1">Features:</strong></p> <p data-mce-fragment="1"> Year: Perennial<br data-mce-fragment="1"> Growing conditions: shade/partial shade/sun<br data-mce-fragment="1"> Height: 50-100 cm<br data-mce-fragment="1"> Growing zone: 1-6</p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8"><strong>Yellow Goumi / Korean Silverbush 'Amber': current height 50-60 cm</strong></p> <p>2 plants recommended for good pollination</p> <p><strong></strong><span><strong>Common name:</strong> Yellow Goumi, Korean Silverbush<br><strong>Scientific name:</strong> <em>Elaeagnus umbellata</em><br><strong>Family:</strong> Elaeagnaceae</span></p> <h4>Plant history & use</h4> <p>'Amber' is a variety of goumi with decorative, yellow-orange berries that have a fresh, sweet-tart taste. The berries are used fresh or for jam, jelly, juice, and wine. The plant has been cultivated in East Asia both as a useful plant and as a soil improver thanks to its ability to fix nitrogen.</p> <h4>Cultivation</h4> <p>Thrives in sun to partial shade in well-drained soil. Easy to grow, drought-resistant, and can be used as a windbreak or free-growing hedge.</p> <h4>Characteristics</h4> <p><strong>Perennial:</strong> Perennial<br><strong>Growing position:</strong> Sun to partial shade<br><strong>Height:</strong> 2–4 meters<br><strong>Hardiness zone:</strong> 1–4</p>

<p><strong>Autumn silver bush / Olive willow in various sizes: </strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Height: 40–60 cm</strong></li> <li><strong>Height: 140–170 cm - Standard trees with round crown &lt;- PICKUP ONLY IN STORE</strong></li> </ul> <p><strong>Common names:</strong> Autumn silver bush, Olive willow<br><strong>Scientific name:</strong> <em>Elaeagnus × ebbingei</em><br><strong>Family:</strong> Elaeagnaceae</p> <h4>Plant history & use</h4> <p>The autumn silver bush is a hybrid between <em>Elaeagnus macrophylla</em> and <em>Elaeagnus pungens</em> – developed to combine evergreen foliage, hardiness, and rapid growth. The leaves are silver-green underneath and give the bush an olive-like appearance, which has earned it the nickname "olive willow".</p> <p>The bush blooms discreetly in autumn with small, fragrant flowers followed by edible, red berries in late summer or autumn. The berries can be eaten fresh when fully ripe or used for jam, jelly, or wine. They are rich in vitamin C and have traditionally been used in simple herbal medicine. The plant also fixes nitrogen and improves the soil around it.</p> <h4>Cultivation</h4> <p>Thrives in sun to partial shade and is tolerant of wind, salt, and drought. Grows quickly and is excellent as a free-growing hedge, privacy screen, or solitary bush. Tolerates pruning well and can be shaped as needed. Best overwintered in plant zone 1, but with a sheltered location it can also survive in zone 2, especially once established. Evergreen leaves may suffer frost damage in severe cold – the bush will, however, produce new leaves in spring in such cases.</p> <h4>Characteristics</h4> <p><strong>Longevity:</strong> Perennial<br><strong>Light conditions:</strong> Sun to partial shade<br><strong>Height:</strong> 2–4 meters (can be kept lower with pruning)<br><strong>Plant zone:</strong> 1–2<br><strong>Flowering:</strong> September–October<br><strong>Fruit:</strong> Sweet red berries ripen during spring and summer months<br></p>