Elaeagnus angustifolia
Oleaster
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Elaeagnus genus in the family Elaeagnaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Elaeagnaceae
- Genus
- Elaeagnus
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- moderate
- Height
- 7 m
- Spread
- 7 m
- Fertility
- Bees
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Fruit - raw or cooked as a seasoning in soups[1][12][19][2][6][21]. Dry, sweet and mealy[3][5][10]. The fruit can also be made into jellies or sherbets[10]. The fruit must be fully ripe before it can be enjoyed raw, if even slightly under-ripe it will be quite astringent[K]. The oval fruit is about 10mm long[13] and contains a single large seed[K]. Seed - raw or cooked. It can be eaten with the fruit though the seed case is rather fibrous[K].
- Plant part
- Fruit
- Plant part
- Seed
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The oil from the seeds is used with syrup as an electuary in the treatment of catarrh and bronchial affections[16]. The juice of the flowers has been used in the treatment of malignant fevers[16]. The fruit of many members of this genus is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals, especially in vitamins A, C and E, flavanoids and other bio-active compounds. It is also a fairly good source of essential fatty acids, which is fairly unusual for a fruit. It is being investigated as a food that is capable of reducing the incidence of cancer and also as a means of halting or reversing the growth of cancers[14].
- Product or use
- Cancer
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Product or use
- Pectoral
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Plants can be grown as a hedge in exposed positions[18], tolerating maritime exposure[13]. It is fairly fast-growing and very tolerant of pruning, but is rather open in habit and does not form a dense screen[K]. Because the plant fixes atmospheric nitrogen, it makes a hedge that enriches the soil rather than depriving it of nutrients[K]. An essential oil obtained from the flowers is used in perfumery[21]. A gum from the plant is used in the textile industry in calico printing[21]. Wood - hard, fine-grained. Used for posts, beams, domestic items[21][2], it is also much used for carving[17]. The wood is an excellent fuel[21][6].
- Product or use
- Essential
- Product or use
- Fuel
- Product or use
- Gum
- Product or use
- Wood
Environment
- Range
- Europe to W. Asia, extending as far north as latitude 55° in Russia.
- Habitat
- By streams and along river banks to 3000 metres in Turkey[24].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 2+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- high wind, maritime exposure, drought
- Wind
- Yes
- Maritime
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
- Salinity
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[22]. It should germinate in late winter or early spring, though it may take 18 months[K]. Stored seed can be very slow to germinate, often taking more than 18 months. A warm stratification for 4 weeks followed by 12 weeks cold stratification can help[25]. The seed usually (eventually) germinates quite well[22]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pot as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out when they are at least 15cm tall. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Difficult[4]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, 10 - 12cm with a heel, October/November in a frame[13]. The cuttings are rather slow and difficult to root, leave them for 12 months[4]. Layering in September/October. Takes 12 months[22]. Root cuttings in the winter[13].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils that are well-drained[13], though it dislikes shallow chalk soils[25]. Prefers a light sandy soil that is only moderately fertile[3], succeeding in poor soils and dry soils[3][13]. Requires a position in full sun, growing very well in hot dry positions[9]. Plants are very drought and wind resistant[1][8][13], they tolerate conditions of considerable salinity and alkalinity[15]. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -40°c[11]. However, plants prefer a continental climate[20] and are apt to be cut back in severe winters in Britain because the summer is often not warm enough to have fully ripened the wood[1]. A very variable species[14]. This species is often cultivated in N. Europe for its edible fruits, there are many named varieties and some of these are thornless[14]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[7][13]. An excellent companion plant, when grown in orchards it can increase yields from the fruit trees by up to 10%. Plants are very tolerant of pruning, they usually resprout freely even when cut right back to the ground. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[23][13]. The flowers are sweetly and heavily scented[11].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009
Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1976-00-00
Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1972-00-00
Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987.
Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Matthews. V. The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Royal Horticultural Society 1994-00-00 ISBN 1352-4186
Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Shepherd. F.W. Hedges and Screens. Royal Horticultural Society. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0900629649
Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7
Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.
Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00
RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society 1987-00-00
Davis. P. H. Flora of Turkey. Edinburgh University Press 1965-00-00
Gordon. A. G. and Rowe. D. C. f. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs.