Honey bees
Nectar value
Medium
Pollen value
Medium
Pollinator plant
Silverthorn
Elaeagnus pungens
Linked agroforestry plant data
Pollinator recipe
Bee value
Who this plant supports
Agroforestry database
Complete plant information
Structure
- Vegetation layer
- Shrub
- Size
- Small
- Dimensions
- 4.00 m high × 4.00 m wide
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
Site conditions
- USDA hardiness
- 6-10
- Moisture
- Well-drained, Moist
- Soil
- Sandy, Loamy, Clay
- pH
- Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
- Light
- Shade, Partial shade, Sun
Uses
- Edible parts
- Fruit, Seed
- Functions
- Nitrogen fixer, Hedge, Fragrant
- Edibility
- 5 out of 5
- Medicinal value
- 2 out of 5
Fruit - can be consumed both raw and cooked. The size of the fruit is comparable to that of a large black currant, but the seed is quite large. The fruit has a subtle and sour taste when fully ripe, but can be astringent if not ripe. It is suitable for making preserves, beverages, etc. The oval fruit is about 15 mm long. Seed - can be eaten both raw and cooked. It can be eaten along with the fruit, but the seed is quite fibrous. The taste is somewhat reminiscent of peanuts. The seed contains 42.2% protein and 23.1% fat at zero moisture content.