Coral oleaster

Profile

Family

Elaeagnaceae

Habit

Shrub

Height

4.5 m

Spread

5 m

Growth

fast

Lifespan

120 years

First yield

after 5 years

Hardiness

zone 3–8

Shade tolerance

light shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam

Soil moisture

very dry – very moist

pH

5 – 7.5

Synonyms

Goumi, Ölweide

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Fruit leather made from raw, unripe, astringent fruit; Yield of about 5 tons per hectare providing around 450 kcal per square meter; Seeds high in protein and fat, can be consumed raw or cooked similar to lentils.

Medicinal: Flowers: astringent, cardiac, and stimulant properties Seeds: beneficial for coughs, oil for lung issues Fruit: abundant in minerals, vitamins (especially ACE), flavonoids, bioactive compounds, and essential fatty acids; boosts heart health, possesses anti-cancer attributes

Other uses: Wood is a fairly resilient material ideal for woodturning and can serve as fuel, being a significant biomass source.

Growing

Thrives in most well-drained soils, although it dislikes shallow, calcareous soils. It prefers moderately fertile soils but also thrives in very poor and dry soils. It prefers light sandy loam and a sunny location. Established plants are very drought-tolerant. This plant is very hardy and can tolerate temperatures as low as -40°C. The species is somewhat similar to E. multiflora, but flowers a few weeks later. It is sometimes cultivated for its edible fruits; there are several named cultivars. 'Cardinal' and 'Red Wing' are very good fruit-bearing forms (developed for ornamental appearance rather than fruit quality). 'Jazbo' was bred for its edible fruits, which are ripe when "touched." This makes it valuable for breeding programs to develop easily harvestable fruits. The flowers are rich in nectar and very aromatic, and are very popular with bees. This species is polymorphic. It is remarkably resistant to dry rot. Plants can bear fruit from seed in 6 years. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria that form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. An excellent companion plant, when grown in orchards, it can increase fruit tree yields by up to 10%.

Propagation

Seeds should be sown right after reaching maturity in a cold frame for optimal germination in late winter or spring, which may take up to 18 months. Stored seeds might germinate very slowly, often exceeding 18 months. A warm stratification period of 4 weeks followed by 12 weeks of cold stratification can aid in the process. Seedlings are ready to be transplanted into individual pots once they are sufficiently grown and should be planted outdoors when they reach a height of at least 15 cm. For semi-mature shoots, take cuttings of 7-10 cm with a heel in July/August in a cold frame, with a high success rate. For mature wood cuttings from the current year's growth, take 10-12 cm cuttings with a heel in November in a cold frame, and let them sit for 12 months, resulting in an acceptable to good success rate. Stratification should be done in September/October and lasts for 12 months.

Notable

Special features: drought+(sea)wind+pruning tolerant, very aromatic flowers that are very popular with (wild+)bees and butterflies, improves the soil and increases the yields of surrounding plants by 10%, prefers sandier, alkaline, nutrient-poor soils; one source states up to 40kg of fruit per bush.

Origin & habitat

East Asia - China, Japan, Himalayas.

Woods, hedges, thickets, etc. on most soils except moist peat and poor acid sands.

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