Silverberry
Shrub·Elaeagnus commutata
Full sun
Sun
Low
Water
Moist soil
Drainage
Zones 2–7
Hardiness
Silverberry (Elaeagnus commutata) is a shrub. It grows best in full sun and has low water needs.
Through the year
DormantLeafing outFloweringFruitingDying back
Works well with
from wiki dataNo companions recorded.
WHAT IT NEEDS
Wants full sun
Needs little water
Tolerates moist soil, as long as it drains well
Prefers soil pH 6–8
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Prefers sandy, loamy, clay soil
Tolerates compacted soil well
Fixes nitrogen in the soil
Draws up nitrogen from deep in the soil
Adds a moderate amount of organic matter to the soil
Partners with mycorrhizal fungi to boost nutrient uptake
WHAT IT GIVES
Gives mulch biomass (medium)
Gives wind shelter (habitat for birds and small mammals)
Provides nitrogen
Attracts pollinators
Attracts birds
Shelters wildlife
HOW IT GROWS
SIZE & SPACING
Shrub layer
Height100–400 cm
Spacing200 cm (min 150 cm)
Root depthMedium
Width100–400 cm
Width figures are rough estimates, the most variable measurement in our data.
AI estimate · accuracy improves as growers contribute corrections.
HOW TO PROPAGATE
Propagate by seeds, cuttings, suckers
Difficulty
Establishes in about 2 yr
Self-seeds readily on its own
Where this comes from
Parsed11 Sept 2026
ConfidenceNot recorded