September 2024 update: We will have more goumi berry bushes available in spring 2025. Email us to be added to the waitlist and know when they are ready.
A deciduous, woody perennial that fixes nitrogen, tolerates drought and poor soils, and produces nutritious berries. What's more to want?! Growing seven feet in all directions, these shrubs are covered in cream-coloured, bell-shaped flowers in May - a favourite of our spring mason bees. The flowers are followed by edible fruit in June, hanging on the branches like red jewels.
Though goumi berry bushes can take 4-10 years to bear fruit when grown from seed, our plants are air-layered from mature bushes, so they will fruit their first year.
Each plant is 2-3 feet tall. Though they've been growing roots since last summer, the roots grow slowly and the price reflects the relatively small root balls.
Common names: Goumi berry, Cherry Silverberry, Cherry Elaeagnus, Cibie, Longpipe Bush, Daio-Gumi
Edible: Fruit (but not seeds)
Harvest timing: June
Scientific name: Elaeagnus multiflora
Light requirements: Full sun
Full-grown size: 7'x7'
Hardiness: Zone 4
Pollination: Self-pollinated
Wildlife: It is one of the first bushes in the garden to flower and is a favourite of mason bees. They seem to prefer it over any other plant in the spring garden.
Origin: Japan, China, Korea
Noteworthy: Nitrogen fixer. Used in permaculture. Drought tolerant. Nutritious. Tolerates poor soil.
WE DO NOT SHIP LIVE PLANTS. THEY ARE AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP AT OUR NURSERY IN ERRINGTON, BC.
