Habitat

• native to Europe
• hardy to zone 4

Habit and Form

• a large, deciduous shrub
• spreading, rounded crown
• 10' to 25' tall
• with an equal or greater width
• medium to fine texture
• medium growth rate

Summer Foliage

• alternate leaf arrangement
• simple, deciduous leaves
• linear, 1" to 3" long
• entire leaf margin
• silver green leaf color

Autumn Foliage

• grayish-green fall color

Flowers

• yellowish flowers
• blooms in march
• borne in racemes
• not showy

Fruit

• orange, egg-shaped drupe
• persist through winter

Bark

• slender stems
• pubescent
• brownish

Culture

• hard to establish
• prefers to be left alone
• full sun
• salt tolerant

Landscape Use

• winter fruit effect
• silvery summer foliage
• mass or grouping
• border
• screen
• seaside planting

Liabilities

• none serious

ID Features

• no terminal buds
• bud have very loose scales
• large spreading shrub
• alternate leaf arrangement
• silver gray foliage

Propagation

• by seed
• by cuttings

Cultivars/Varieties

'Leikora' - A female, heavy-fruiting form, this plant is offered by some specialty nurseries.

'Pollmix' - This is a selected male form useful as a pollinator for female clones. One 'Pollmix' can pollinate up to 6 female plants.

'Sprite' - This unusual cultivar is notable for its dense, compact habit to 2' tall and wide. It may be useful as a low hedge in seaside locations.