''Elaeagnus'' × ''submacrophylla'', formerly known as ''Elaeagnus'' × ''ebbingei'', is a hybrid between ''

Elaeagnus macrophylla ''Elaeagnus macrophylla'', the broad-leaved oleaster, is a species of flowering plant native to eastern Asia. Growing to tall by broad, it is a substantial spreading evergreen shrub, with round glossy leaves which are silvery when young. Heavi ...

'' and ''

Elaeagnus pungens ''Elaeagnus pungens'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Elaeagnaceae, known by the common names thorny olive, spiny oleaster and silverthorn; also by the family name "oleaster". It is native to Asia, including China and Japan. It is ...

''. Several

cultivar A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture, ...

s, including 'Gilt Edge', are grown in gardens as ornamental plants. Both the hybrid and 'Gilt Edge' have gained the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nort ...

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. History The Award of Garden Merit ...

Description

''Elaeagnus'' × ''submacrophylla'' is an evergreen shrub, ultimately growing to about . The upper surfaces of the leaves are dark green, sometimes appearing metallic; the lower surfaces are silvery and scaly. Small fragrant tubular white flowers appear in autumn.

Taxonomy

The hybrid was first discovered in 1929 by Simon Doorenbos, a Dutch horticulturalist, while he was director of the Parks Department in

The Hague The Hague ( ; nl, Den Haag or ) is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital of ...

. He sowed seed from several ''Elaeagnus'' species growing next to one another. These included ''E. macrophylla'' and ''E. pungens''. Doorenbos gave the hybrid the epithet ''ebbingei'', honouring J.W.E. Ebbinge, and the name ''E.'' × ''ebbingei'' was widely used until it was realized that the name with priority was ''E.'' × ''submacrophylla'', published by Camille Servettaz in 1909. ''E.'' × ''ebbingei'' is now regarded as an

illegitimate name ''Nomen illegitimum'' (Latin for illegitimate name) is a technical term, used mainly in botany. It is usually abbreviated as ''nom. illeg.'' Although the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants uses Latin terms for other ki ...

Cultivars

Cultivar A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture, ...

s include: *'Albert Doorenbos' – large green leaves *'Compacta' – dwarf plant *'Costal Gold' – broad leaves, pale yellow in the centre when mature *'Gilt Edge' AGM – leaves with dark green centres, golden yellow margins *'Limelight' – leaves with yellow and pale green central areas when mature *'The Hague' – small green leaves File:Elaeagnus x ebbingei 1.jpg, Young leaves File:Elaeagnus ebbingei 2c.JPG, Fruit File:Elaeagnus X ebbingei Gilt Edge1.jpg, 'Gilt Edge' File:Elaeagnus 'Limelight' leaf.jpg, 'Limelight'

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elaeagnus submacrophylla submacrophylla Hybrid plants Plants described in 1909