Oleaster Hedge (Elaeagnus x ebbingei)

Elaeagnus ebbingei Hedge Plants Description

Elaeagnus × ebbingei, commonly known as Oleaster or Silverberry, is a versatile evergreen hedge plant with dense growth and distinctive silver-green foliage. Its dark green leaves have silvery undersides, creating an attractive effect when they move in the wind.

One of the main advantages of Oleaster is its ability to perform in challenging garden conditions. It is well suited to windy and coastal sites and can tolerate shade, making it a useful alternative to evergreen hedges that require more sheltered or sunnier positions.

The shrub produces small, highly fragrant creamy-white flowers in autumn, adding seasonal interest when many other flowering plants have finished. Small orange fruits can develop afterwards, providing further interest for the garden.

With a growth rate of around 30–50cm per year, Oleaster establishes more quickly than slow-growing evergreen hedges while still being straightforward to keep at a manageable height. Its naturally dense habit makes it suitable for privacy screening, boundaries, windbreaks and informal or formal hedges.

For gardens where year-round foliage, resilience and relatively fast establishment are priorities, Oleaster is a particularly practical hedging choice.

Pruning Advice

Oleaster responds well to regular trimming and can be pruned to maintain a neat, dense hedge. For general hedge shaping, light pruning in late summer after flowering is suitable.

Remove longer, damaged or unruly shoots to maintain the desired shape, and cut back any plain green shoots that appear to where they emerge from the plant.

If you want to retain the plant's seasonal fruit for wildlife or ornamental interest, avoid late-summer pruning because this can remove the short shoots that carry the fruit. Instead, prune during April or May.

Avoid removing more growth than necessary, particularly on established plants, as maintaining a balanced framework helps preserve the dense appearance of the hedge.

Further Information

Planting density should be considered alongside the size of the plants supplied and how quickly you want the hedge to fill out. The recommended spacing for each plant size and root type is shown in the product grid.

As a general guide, bare root Oleaster can be planted at around 3–7 plants per metre, while cell-grown plants can be spaced at approximately 4–6 plants per metre. A higher density or a double staggered/zig-zag arrangement can help create a fuller hedge more quickly.

Water newly planted Oleaster regularly during its first growing season, particularly during prolonged dry periods. Once established, it is a relatively low-maintenance hedge with good tolerance of wind, coastal conditions and shade.

Oleaster Hedge FAQs

Is Oleaster evergreen?

Yes. Elaeagnus × ebbingei is an evergreen shrub that retains its foliage throughout the year, making it suitable for year-round screening and boundary planting.

How fast does Oleaster grow?

Oleaster has an average to fast growth rate of around 30–50cm per year under suitable conditions. Its relatively quick establishment makes it useful when you want an evergreen hedge to fill out sooner.

Is Oleaster suitable for coastal gardens?

Yes. Oleaster is particularly well suited to coastal and exposed locations and is a useful choice for gardens affected by wind.

Does Oleaster grow in shade?

Yes. Elaeagnus × ebbingei can tolerate full shade as well as partial shade and full sun, making it more versatile than many evergreen hedging plants. Growth and flowering may be stronger with some available light.

When does Oleaster flower?

Oleaster produces small, fragrant creamy-white flowers in autumn. The flowers are relatively subtle visually but have a noticeable fragrance.

How tall does Oleaster grow?

Oleaster can grow beyond typical hedge height if left unpruned, but it is easily maintained at around 2–3m with regular trimming.

Delivery & Returns

Free delivery is available on most orders (except Premium Products) providing they meet the minimum spend criteria for the size of box or pallet. Pallet deliveries and large box deliveries for tall plants are indicated by icons on the product table listings. Delivery costs and minimum order details for each packaging type are as follows:

* Standard Sized Boxes (Bare root up to 1.2m tall & pots up to 7.5L) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £250 | or £9.98 charge.

* Tall Sized Boxes (Bare roots 1.2m & over) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £250 | or £24.99 charge.

* Pallets (Root balls, large pots 10L+, trees etc | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £350 | or £82 charge.

* Pleached Trees (Specialist Delivery) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £1500 | or £450 charge.