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Which variety of Elaeagnus is this, and is it sick?
sprengerjan
Posts: 30
in Plants
Recently moved into a new house with a hedge of Elaeagnus, but I don't know which variety. New growth is browner and matte than the glossy green original leaves. Is this typical, or a sign of disease?
0
Posts
I had one for many years but got rid of it - the spines are ferocious.
Sorry, but I don't know the variety either..
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I have a couple as large screening shrubs at the back of a border. They are valuable plants for my needs (dense, tall evergreens, with a bit of interest in the form of tiny flowers and silvery backed leaves and there are several blackbird nests every year) but do check it out on Google to decide whether it's the right plant for your situation.
They will grow to the size of a small tree if left to do their own thing and as Pete says the spines can be quite vicious (not too many of them but they are long). If yours is a smaller garden every plant needs to earn their place - and you may think there are other shrubs more deserving of the space.
Your shrub looks healthy (as Pete says the brown shoots are normal new growth) but it's still small enough to remove easily. If it's a hedge - it's one that will grow about 2' a year when it gets going...