Eleagnus berry 'Big Red' / 'Sweet-N-Tart'

'Big Red' bears large, red berries in autumn (October).

AVAILABLE IN AUTUMN 2023 OR AT THE LATEST SPRING 2024.
These American, very hardy, deciduous and fast-growing shrubs usually grow 3-4 m tall. After the (delightfully scented!) white blossoms, our selections produce tasty, sweet-and-sour berries in dense clusters, close to the wood of the branches. The berries can be eaten unsweetened directly from the plant and are also delicious in salads, for example. As long as it doesn't freeze, you can continue harvesting from the plant, so you usually still have berries in December – what other plant can do that! The rest are for the birds or for decoration...
What's special about the Autumn Olive is that it can store nitrogen from the air for leaner times, or if the soil is very poor...! Give them a sunny to slightly shaded spot; rich soil is not very suitable for these shrubs; they are true pioneer plants that (like the sea buckthorn, to which they are related) even tolerate salt and very high temperatures well. The blossoms contribute to the preservation of bee populations: they love them! Plant at least 2 shrubs of different varieties for good pollination and fruit set.

Names:
Latin: Elaeagnus umbellata
Dutch: Eleagnusbes
Also known as: Olijfwilg
English: Japanese Silverberry, Umbellata Oleaster, Autumn Olive, Autumn Elaeagnus, Spreading Oleaster