Goumi Berry
Elaeagnus multiflora
Also listed as Elaeagnus edulis, Elaeagnus isensis
Also known as Goumi, Cherry Oleaster, Cherry Silverberry
Climate Match for your location
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A deciduous shrub producing silvery fragrant flowers followed by distinctive red berry-like drupes with a tart, sweet flavor prized for fresh eating and preserves. Nitrogen-fixing nodules in roots improve soil while providing a productive food source with minimal maintenance.
Why grow it
Goumi berry offers earlier fruiting and more compact growth than many nitrogen-fixing shrubs, making it suitable for smaller permaculture systems. Compared to sea buckthorn or autumn olive, it produces a milder fruit better suited to fresh eating without processing. The plant's dual role as both soil improver and food producer makes it efficient for gardens where space and fertility management matter equally.
Watch out for
Fruit ripens over an extended period rather than all at once, requiring multiple harvests if you want to preserve a large batch at one time. Plants may take two to three years to establish substantial fruiting, so patience is needed before evaluating productivity. In warm climates, inconsistent winter chilling can reduce flowering and fruiting in some years.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Elaeagnaceae
Native Range
China, Japan
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A deciduous shrub producing silvery fragrant flowers followed by distinctive red berry-like drupes with a tart, sweet flavor prized for fresh eating and preserves. Nitrogen-fixing nodules in roots improve soil while providing a productive food source with minimal maintenance.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Goumi Berry grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Goumi berry offers earlier fruiting and more compact growth than many nitrogen-fixing shrubs, making it suitable for smaller permaculture systems. Compared to sea buckthorn or autumn olive, it produces a milder fruit better suited to fresh eating without processing. The plant's dual role as both soil improver and food producer makes it efficient for gardens where space and fertility management matter equally.
Watch out for
Fruit ripens over an extended period rather than all at once, requiring multiple harvests if you want to preserve a large batch at one time. Plants may take two to three years to establish substantial fruiting, so patience is needed before evaluating productivity. In warm climates, inconsistent winter chilling can reduce flowering and fruiting in some years.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Elaeagnaceae
Native Range
China, Japan
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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