Gilt Edge Silverberry Elaeagnus × submacrophylla 'Gilt Edge' (v)
ABOUT
Gilt Edge is a vibrant, eye-catching evergreen shrub known primarily for its stunning foliage. Its leaves are oval-shaped and exhibit a beautiful variegation, being predominantly dark green with contrasting, irregular golden-yellow edges that create a striking visual display. This colorful leafy border adds a luminous quality to the plant's overall appearance, making it a popular choice for gardeners looking to introduce a splash of color into their landscapes. The leaves of Gilt Edge are leathery to the touch, offering a robust and resilient texture. The variegation on the leaves remains vivid throughout the year, ensuring that the plant remains a center of interest across all seasons. In addition to the attractive foliage, the plant also produces small, inconspicuous flowers. These blooms are typically creamy-white to silver in color and may carry a subtle fragrance that can entice passersby or wildlife. The rich coloration and glossy finish on the leaves can attract the eye and serve as a beautiful backdrop for other plants within a garden setting. While the overall allure of Gilt Edge lies in its decorative leaves and year-round interest, it is also valued for its hardiness and ability to thrive under a variety of conditions, making it both an aesthetic and a practical choice for gardeners and landscapers.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Elaeagnaceae.
Synonyms
Gilt Edge Silverberry, Gilt Edge Oleaster, Variegated Oleaster, Gold-edged Elaeagnus.
Common names
Elaeagnus × submacrophylla 'Gilt Edge' (v).
ToxicityTo humans
Oleaster 'Gilt Edge' is not known to be toxic to humans. There are no significant reports or studies indicating toxicity upon ingestion of its parts by humans.
To pets
Oleaster 'Gilt Edge' is not known to be toxic to pets. It is not listed as a plant that typically causes any notable symptoms of poisoning in animals such as dogs and cats upon ingestion of its parts.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Evergreen
Color of leaves
Variegated
Flower color
Creamy-white
Height
8-10 feet (2.4-3 meters)
Spread
8-10 feet (2.4-3 meters)
Plant type
Shrub
Hardiness zones
7
Native area
Cultivar
Benefits
General Benefits- Landscape Ornamentation: Adds visual interest to gardens with its variegated leaves and bushy growth.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, it requires minimal watering, making it suitable for xeriscaping.
- Low Maintenance: Typically requires minimal pruning or special care to thrive.
- Erosion Control: The dense roots help stabilize soils on slopes or areas prone to erosion.
- Habitat Support: Provides shelter and nesting sites for birds and small wildlife.
- Privacy Screen: Dense foliage is ideal for creating natural privacy hedges or screens.
- Seasonal Interest: Offers year-round foliage interest and may produce small fragrant flowers.
- Tolerance to Varied Conditions: Adapts to a wide range of soil types and environmental conditions.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Elaeagnus 'Gilt Edge' can be used as a visual barrier in gardens due to its dense foliage, offering privacy to homeowners.
- The shrub can be trained into shapes or topiary for an ornamental feature in formal gardens.
- Its leaves can be used in floral arrangements as a long-lasting greenery addition.
- Due to its tolerance of coastal conditions, it can be useful for dune stabilization and coastal landscaping.
- The dense foliage provides a suitable habitat for birds, offering shelter and nesting sites.
- The shrubbery can act as a windbreak in exposed locations, protecting more delicate plants.
- It can be used in permaculture designs as part of a guild to support biodiversity and beneficial insects.
- The bright yellow edges of its leaves can be used to add a splash of color to otherwise monochromatic green hedges.
- When planted in a container, it can be used to decorate terraces, balconies, or other paved areas.
- The shrub can be used to soften architectural lines and integrate buildings more naturally into the landscape.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Oleaster 'Gilt Edge' is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Oleaster 'Gilt Edge' is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Resilience: The Gilt Edge, being a hardy plant that can thrive in various conditions, symbolizes the ability to withstand and adapt to different environments and situations.
- Protection: With its dense foliage, the Gilt Edge is often used as a shelter plant in gardens, representing a haven or a protective barrier against outside forces.
- Friendship: This plant can symbolize the bond of friendship, as it is often planted alongside others to create a harmonious landscape, reflecting the idea of companionship and support.
WaterThe Oleaster 'Gilt Edge' should be watered deeply, ensuring that the water reaches the root zone, about once a week during its growing season in spring and summer. During the cooler months of fall and winter, reduce watering to every two to three weeks, depending on the weather and soil moisture levels. When watering, use approximately 1-2 gallons of water per session for a newly planted Oleaster, ensuring you adjust the amount as the plant grows and establishes. Be sure to avoid overhead watering to keep the foliage dry and prevent potential disease issues. It's crucial to ensure the plant is in well-draining soil to prevent waterlogging.
LightThe Oleaster 'Gilt Edge' thrives in full sun to partial shade. It performs best when it receives at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily, but it can also tolerate some shade, especially in hotter climates. The ideal spot for this plant would be in an area that gets bright, indirect light for the remainder of the day, such as the eastern or western side of a garden or landscape.
TemperatureThe Oleaster 'Gilt Edge' is hardy and adapts well to a range of temperature conditions, preferring to grow in temperatures between 50°F and 80°F. It can survive minimum temperatures down to around 10°F but might suffer leaf damage. During the winter, it's important to provide some protection from severe frosts, especially for younger plants.
PruningThe Oleaster 'Gilt Edge' benefits from pruning to maintain its shape and encourage dense growth; however, it does not require heavy pruning. Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Lightly trim back any wayward or broken branches and shape the plant as desired. Significant pruning should be done every few years to rejuvenate older plants.
CleaningAs needed
SoilGilt Edge Silverberry prefers well-draining soil with a mix of loam, sand, and organic matter. The pH should range between 6.0 and 7.5 for optimal growth.
RepottingGilt Edge Silverberry is a large shrub and does not typically require repotting as it is usually planted directly in the ground.
Humidity & MistingGilt Edge Silverberry tolerates a wide range of humidity levels and does not have specific humidity requirements.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place in bright, indirect light; well-draining soil.
Outdoor
Full sun to partial shade; shelter from strong winds.
Hardiness zone
7-9 USDA
Life cycleElaeagnus × submacrophylla 'Gilt Edge', commonly known as Gilt Edge Silverberry, starts its life cycle with seed germination, although it is more commonly propagated by cuttings. Once established, it enters a vigorous vegetative growth phase, developing a dense, bushy form with glossy, variegated leaves that have a distinctive edge of yellow or gold. During the maturity stage, the plant produces small, fragrant flowers, typically in late autumn or early winter, which are less noticeable due to being hidden by the foliage. Following pollination, Gilt Edge Silverberry may produce small fruits, albeit fruiting is inconsistent in garden settings. The plant continues to grow and can reach an ultimate height and spread of 2-3 meters. As it ages, it requires occasional pruning to maintain its shape and health and can live many years with proper care in temperate climates.
PropogationPropogation time
Early spring
Elaeagnus × submacrophylla 'Gilt Edge', commonly known as Gilt Edge Silverberry, is often propagated by semi-hardwood cuttings. The ideal time to take cuttings for propagation is in the late summer. To propagate through this method, a gardener should select a healthy, non-flowering stem and cut a piece that is approximately 4 to 6 inches (about 10 to 15 centimeters) long. The cut section should have several leaves but the lower third of the cutting should have all leaves removed. The cut end can be dipped in rooting hormone powder to encourage root development and then planted in a pot filled with a mixture of peat and perlite or a similar well-draining medium. The cutting needs to be kept in a humid environment with indirect light and the medium should be kept moist but not waterlogged. Roots typically develop within a few weeks, after which the new plants can gradually acclimate to less humid conditions before transplanting.
