Elaeagnus x reflexa

What to Eat

Edible parts: Fruit, Seeds

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked but must be fully ripe before eating raw — even slightly underripe fruit is quite astringent. It contains a single large seed, which can also be eaten raw or cooked alongside the fruit, though the seed casing is rather fibrous.

Where to Find It

It suits hardiness zones 7-9.

TEMPERATE ASIA: Japan (Honshu, Shikoku)

How to Identify

A scrambling evergreen shrub. It is almost without thorns. The branches are long and reddish-brown. The leaves are glossy and dark green. Underneath they are covered with brown scales. The flowers are silvery.

How to Grow

Succeeds in most soils that are well-drained. Prefers a soil that is only moderately fertile, succeeding in poor soils and in dry soils. Established plants are drought resistant. Tolerates shade and can be grown under other trees. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby. An excellent companion plant, when grown in orchards it can increase yields from the fruit trees by up to 10%. Fruiting as it does in April and May, this plant has excellent potential as a fruit crop, it should be fairly easy to selectively breed for improved fruit size and flavour. The small flowers have a strong, pleasant scent that pervades the garden on calm days.

Propagation: This is a hybrid and will not breed true from seed. If that is acceptable, seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, where it should germinate freely within 4 weeks, though it may take 18 months. Stored seed can be very slow to germinate, often taking more than 18 months. A warm stratification of 4 weeks followed by 12 weeks of cold stratification can help. Prick out seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out when at least 15cm tall. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7–10cm with a heel, are best taken in June and placed in a frame in July/August — rooting is rather slow but a good percentage usually strike. Cuttings of mature wood from the current year's growth, 10–12cm with a heel, taken in November in a frame and left for 12 months give a fair to good percentage. Layering in September/October takes 12 months.

Medicinal Uses

Like many in its genus, the fruit is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals — particularly vitamins A, C and E — along with flavonoids and other bio-active compounds. It is also a fairly good source of essential fatty acids, which is unusual for a fruit. It is being investigated for its potential to reduce the incidence of cancer and to halt or reverse cancer growth.

Other Uses

Can be grown as a hedge in exposed positions and tolerates maritime exposure. It can also be planted in windy gaps under trees in shelterbelts, where it will in time fill the gaps and climb into the lower parts of the trees. It is a nitrogen fixer.

Evergreen shrub growing to 4.5m at medium rate. Hardy to UK zone 7, not frost-tender. Year-round foliage with flowers October to December and seeds ripening April to May. Hermaphroditic, bee-pollinated. Fixes nitrogen. Tolerates light, medium, or heavy soils with well-drained, poor-fertility conditions. Accepts mildly acidic to basic pH. Grows in full shade to full sun. Drought-tolerant with ability to handle maritime exposure.

Notes

There are 45 Elaeagnus species.

More from Elaeagnaceae

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