Ebbinge's Silverberry

Light Needs

Full Sun to Partial Shade

(4+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

8-10 Feet

Mature Spread

8-10 Feet

Growing Zones

7 to 9

Ebbinge's Silverberry creates a beautiful evergreen screen with silver-flecked leaves that flash pale undersides whenever the branches move. Elaeagnus × ebbingei quickly reaches 8 to 10 feet tall and wide, carrying dark green foliage on upright, spineless stems. Tiny creamy-white flowers open in fall with an intense sweet fragrance. Reddish brown fruits may follow in the spring and are edible – though you might have to race the birds!

This garden-origin hybrid is generally considered a cross between Elaeagnus macrophylla and Elaeagnus pungens, combining broad evergreen foliage with smoother branches. It handles coastal exposure, wind, urban conditions, dry shade, and periods of drought once the roots are established. Plant it along a property line for privacy, behind a wide mixed border, or around an open patio where the fall fragrance can be appreciated. An older specimen can also be limbed up into a small accent tree with a rounded canopy.

Ebbinge's Silverberry Care

Plant Ebbinge's Silverberry in full sun to partial shade, with full sun supporting denser branching and heavier flowering. It grows in loam, sand, or clay as long as excess water drains away readily (persistently wet ground can lead to root problems). Mildly acidic, neutral, and alkaline soils are suitable.

Water deeply during the first growing season whenever the upper 2 to 3 inches of soil become dry. Established plants tolerate drought, but occasional deep watering during prolonged summer heat helps maintain a full canopy. Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring when growth appears pale or sparse; shrubs growing well in average soil may need little supplemental feeding. A 2- to 3-inch mulch layer helps insulate the root zone, especially near the colder edge of its range, but should remain several inches away from the stems.

Complete major size reduction in late winter after severe cold has passed, then trim lightly during the growing season when maintaining a formal hedge. For an informal screen, thin crossing stems and shorten long shoots back to side branches so foliage remains evenly distributed through the plant. Avoid heavy pruning late in the season, since fresh growth may be vulnerable to early freezes.

Ebbinge's Silverberry Spacing

Space plants 8 to 9 feet apart on center for a substantial hedge or privacy screen. Allow 10 to 11 feet between shrubs when each plant will develop as a separate rounded specimen. A young plant can grow in a heavy container at least 24 to 30 inches wide, though its fast growth and mature size mean it should eventually be transplanted to the ground. Use a well-drained potting mix, keep drainage holes open, and water containers whenever the upper 3 inches become dry.

Pair Ebbinge's Silverberry with abelias and black-eyed Susans in sunny landscape borders, where all three tolerate heat and periods of reduced moisture after establishment. For a large seasonal container, lantana and verbena pair well with the stronger light, warm temperatures, and quicker drying cycle around the shrub.

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