10 AMERICAN SILVERBERRY Elaeagnus Commutata aka Wolf Willow Wolfberry Wild Olive Berry Fruit Shrub Seeds

Description:
Name: American Silverberry
Other common names: Wolf Willow, Silverberry, Wolfberry, Wild Olive
Scientific name: Elaeagnus Commutata
Color: Yellow flowers, silvery berries, silvery foliage
Plant seeds: Fall – cold stratify; outdoors after frost; indoors weeks before last frost
Harvest: Fall
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
Hardiness zone: 2 – 6
Plant height: 3 – 12 feet
Plant spacing: 5 – 10 feet
Light requirements: Sun to part shade
Soil & water preferences: Average
Quantity: 10 seeds
Other: The American Silverberry is a robust, cold-hardy deciduous shrub or small tree native to the northern US and Canada. It tends to grow as a shrub but can be pruned into a tree-like shape. Adaptable to various harsh conditions, it thrives in coastal areas (tolerating salt and wind), droughts, and different soil types such as sandy, rocky, or heavy clay, and even in nutrient-poor conditions. It is capable of fixing nitrogen in the soil. The thornless Silverberry is fast-growing and long-lived. It spreads through rhizomes to form colonies without being invasive. The plant’s silver-toned leaves and berries, which start as yellow-petaled, fragrant flowers in late spring, turning to silvery berries by fall, are visually striking. The berries, which are half an inch long, can be eaten raw or used in cooking for jellies, soups and more, are rich in vitamins C, E, and A along with valuable minerals. The berries are also enjoyed by birds while providing food for various wildlife such as moose, deer, elk, and small woodland creatures. Additionally, the Silverberry has various traditional and practical uses in making soap, weaving from its bark, and creating ornamental beads from the berries.