Elaeagnus fragrans

Nakai

Elaeagnaceae Edible: Fruit, Seeds

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Conveyor Belt

Summary

Deciduous shrub reaching 3m at medium growth rate. Hermaphroditic and bee-pollinated. Fixes nitrogen. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage and poor soil nutrition. Grows in mildly acidic, neutral, and basic soils. Requires full sun exposure. Drought-tolerant and maritime-hardy.

Description

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked, but must be fully ripe before it can be enjoyed raw — if even slightly under-ripe it will be quite astringent. The fruit is about 6–8mm long and contains a single large seed. The seed can also be eaten raw or cooked alongside the fruit, though the seed case is rather fibrous.

Medicinal Uses

The fruit is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamins A, C and E, flavanoids and other bio-active compounds. It also provides a fairly good supply of essential fatty acids, which is unusual for a fruit. It is being investigated for its potential to reduce the incidence of cancer and to halt or reverse cancer growth.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Asia, Bhutan, Japan,

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know how hardy it will be in this country. It is closely related to E. umbellata and is considered to be no more than a subspecies of that plant by some botanists. The following details are based on the general information for this genus. Succeeds in most soils that are well-drained. Prefers a soil that is only moderately fertile, succeeding in poor soils and dry soils. Requires a sunny position. Tolerates maritime exposure. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus. 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. An excellent companion plant, when grown in orchards it can increase yields from the fruit trees by up to 10%.

Propagation

Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. It should germinate in late winter or early spring, though it may take 18 months. Stored seed can be very slow to germinate, often taking more than 18 months; a warm stratification for 4 weeks followed by 12 weeks of cold stratification can help. Prick out seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out when at least 15cm tall. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7–10cm with a heel, taken in July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood from the current year's growth, 10–12cm with a heel, taken in October/November in a frame — the cuttings are rather slow and difficult to root, so leave them for 12 months. Layering in September/October takes 12 months.