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James Burghardt
Elaeagnaceae
ELAEAGNUS 'Quicksilver'
Elaeagnus
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
A pleasant upright-shaped shrub with gently arching branches, the Quicksilver silverberry glistens with silvery gray-green foliage and red fruits. A hybrid originating in England as a chance seedling, 'Quicksilver' is a fast-growing deciduous shrub.
The thin branches have thorns. At first, the branches are held upright, but as they lengthen and carry more weight they begin to arch. In early spring, the oval leaves emerge with a whitish silver hue. They mature to silvery gray-green. In late spring or early summer, loads of tiny, vanilla-scented, ivory to pale yellow flowers line the branches under the leaves. Thousands of berries, initially silvery-green, develop later. By the start of fall, these fruits ripen to bright red. After the foliage drops away, the fruits persist into early winter, attracting birds for a tasty treat.
Grow 'Quicksilver' is full to partial sun in any soil that doesn't flood. Nitrogen-fixing nodes on the shrub's roots allow it to succeed in poor soils. Use it as a windbreak or screen in a landscape, or as a solitary specimen in a mixed border. The reflective silvery foliage is more ornamental if the shrub is planted in front of a dark background, such as a row of evergreens.
Monitor the landscape for any seedlings from the Quicksilver silverberry shrub. Birds scatter the seeds as they consume the fruits. Pull up any seedlings to prevent any weediness in the garden as well as along the periphery of the property.
8 - 1
5 - 9
2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Shrub
Full Sun, Partial Sun
8'-12' / 2.4m - 3.7m
8'-15' / 2.4m - 4.6m
Late Spring
Hybrid Origin
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Average
Clay, Loam, Sand
Drought
Fast
Xeric/Desert, Drought Tolerant, Average Water
Oval/Rounded
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Showy
Red
White, Light Green, Gray
Light Green, Gray Green, Silver
Sandy Brown, Gray
Yes
No
Single
Medium
Matte
Smooth
Feature Plant, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break
Sometimes
Birds
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