It can be aggressive due to its suckering habit, so give it plenty of room.

Does it need fertilizer?

No, it fixes its own nitrogen and prefers lean soil.

Plant guide

Silverberry.

Elaeagnus commutata

Pronounced el-ee-AG-nus kom-yoo-TAY-tuh

Also known as silverberry, wolf-willow, American silverberry, silver elaeagnus, wolfberry

Silverberry is a hardy deciduous shrub known for its striking silvery foliage and fragrant yellow flowers. It thrives in tough conditions and is often used for erosion control or as a windbreak. Its unique metallic appearance makes it a standout choice for naturalistic landscapes.

Another photo of Silverberry — Photo by Logan J.L. Bradley (CC BY) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Deciduous shrub
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 3 to 4 meters
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 2 to 6
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

This shrub is very low maintenance once established in your garden. Watch for excessive suckering if you want to keep it contained to a specific area. Ensure it has plenty of space to spread as it naturally forms thickets.

Watering: Water regularly during the first year until the root system is established.
Feeding: Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring if growth seems sluggish.
Pruning: Prune in late winter to remove dead wood or control the spread of suckers.
Repotting: Repot only if container grown and the plant becomes root bound.
Soil: Well-draining sandy or rocky soil
Soil pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline
Temperature: -40 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 20 to 50 years.
Fragrance: Strong
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of drainage holes
Stunted growth despite proper light

Safety

People: There are no known toxic parts to this plant.
Children: The fruit is safe to handle, but always supervise small children to prevent choking on the seeds.
Contact allergens: The silvery scales on the leaves can occasionally cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The pollen may cause mild reactions in those prone to seasonal allergies.
Edibility: The fruit is technically edible but often mealy and astringent, making it unappealing for most people.

How to identify it

Silvery metallic scales on leaves
Fragrant small yellow bell flowers
Oval leaves with wavy margins
Silvery brown scaly fruit
Suckering habit forming thickets

Height: 1 to 4m
Spread: 1 to 3m
Leaves: silver, green, deciduous
Flowers: yellow, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: silver, Late summer to autumn

Problems to watch for

Leaf SpotCommon
AphidsUncommon
Scale InsectsUncommon
CankerRare

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, division, cuttings
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: This plant is extremely cold hardy and requires no special protection during winter. Simply leave the leaf litter around the base to protect the roots.
In containers: It is not well suited for containers due to its aggressive root system and large size.

Seed

1. Collect ripe fruit in autumn.
2. Clean the seeds thoroughly.
3. Cold stratify for 3 months.
4. Sow in pots in early spring.

Plant this shrub in a location where you can easily mow around it to control its spread.

Grows well with

Common Juniper · They share similar drought tolerance and soil preferences.
Western Sandcherry · This shrub thrives in the same sunny, open conditions.

Similar species

Russian Olive · It looks similar but is considered highly invasive in many regions.

Science

Family: Elaeagnaceae
Genus: Elaeagnus
Order: Rosales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: North America, specifically the northern Great Plains and Canada.
Conservation: This plant is widespread and not of conservation concern.

It colonizes disturbed sites and open prairies by forming thickets through extensive root suckering.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, provides cover for birds
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: erosion control, hedging, wildlife habitat, windbreak

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 4/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Nutrients: 2/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 3/9
Moisture: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it invasive?: It can be aggressive due to its suckering habit, so give it plenty of room.
Does it need fertilizer?: No, it fixes its own nitrogen and prefers lean soil.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Elaeagnus comes from Greek words for olive and chaste tree, while commutata means changed or variable.

Good to know

It is also known as silverberry.
The plant spreads by underground runners, making it excellent for stabilizing slopes.
Its silvery foliage provides a beautiful contrast in a mixed shrub border.

Also in

Drought-tolerant plants

Keep your silverberry growing

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.