Elaeagnus

A very distinctive shrub, silverberry is a narrow and upright with a shimmering silvery tone to its leaves and silver berries. Small yellow, star-shaped blossoms with silver undersides flower profusely in early summer with a strong, musky fragrance. The fruit is edible, but dry and mealy and astringent when unripe. Can be added to soups and made into jelly. The large seed can eb eaten raw or cooked. Unusual for a fruit, it produces essential fatty acids and was used by Native Americans to make soap. Considered excellent reclamation plant, especially at mine sites, since it tolerates dry, infertile exposed locations. Its propensity to root sucker vigorously knits highly disturbed, barren soil together to stop erosion and, as a nitrogen fixer, paves the way for new plants. Forms long-lived and extremely hardy colonies which provide wildlife habitat in otherwise open places and contributing food and cover for birds and mammals, especially snowshoe hares. Pollinated by bees. Tolerates acid and alkaline soils, wind and salt exposure, and radically cold temperatures, but cannot grow in the shade. The fibrous bark is used in weaving blankets and cloth and twisted to make strong ropes. Seed was used as beads.

A broadly rounded shrub with small, fragrant, yellow-white flowers in spring. The edible fruits, about 5/8" long, turn bright red when ripe in early summer. The fruits are tart, but quite palatable when fully ripe; they are reputed to make very good preserves. The fruits are also eaten enthusiastically by birds. Tolerant of poor, dry soil and polluted air. For fruit production, 2 or more should be planted.