How to Grow Elaeagnus umbellata? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Cultivation Techniques

Elaeagnus umbellata, scientific name Elaeagnus pungens, also known as quercus crispula, sweet stick, milk fruit root, Elaeagnus umbellata, etc., is an evergreen erect shrub of the genus Elaeagnus in the family Elaeagnaceae. When ripe, the fruit is sweet and edible. The roots, leaves and fruits are all used medicinally, and it also has certain ornamental value. Cultivation can be done by sowing seeds or cuttings, and it is relatively easy to grow. Let us take a look at the cultivation techniques for Elaeagnus umbellata below!

Growth Habits of Elaeagnus umbellata

Elaeagnus umbellata has relatively strong cold resistance. In the southern part of North China, it can overwinter in the open field and can endure an absolute low temperature of around minus 8°C. The suitable growth temperature is 24-34°C, and it tolerates high temperatures and summer heat. Although in its place of origin it grows under sparse forests on hillsides and in shady, damp valleys, it is not afraid of direct sunlight exposure and also has relatively strong shade tolerance. It is not demanding on soil and can grow in neutral, acidic and calcareous soils. It is drought-tolerant and barren-tolerant, but not waterlogging-tolerant.

Propagation Techniques for Elaeagnus umbellata

1. Sowing: In mid-to-late May each year, after harvesting the fruits, pile them up. After a period of ripening, they rot on their own. Then wash the seeds clean and sow them immediately. The seed germination rate is only about 50%, so the sowing amount should be appropriately increased. Use the furrow drilling method, with a row spacing of 15-20 cm, cover with soil 1.5 cm thick, and cover with grass after sowing to preserve moisture. After sowing, summer has already begun, and the temperature is relatively high. All seedlings can emerge within a little over a month. Shade sheds should be built immediately. Apply fertilizer twice in the same year, divide and transplant the seedlings in early spring of the next year, and after another 1-2 years of cultivation they can be released from the nursery.

2. Cuttings: Elaeagnus umbellata cuttings are mostly taken in early April. Cut fully developed 1-2 year old branches as cuttings, cut them into sections 12-15 cm long, retain 1-2 leaves, and insert them 5-7 cm deep into the soil. If cuttings are taken in an open-field seedbed, shade sheds need to be built. If potted, they should be placed under a shade shed for maintenance. They root in about 2 months and can continue to be cultivated into larger seedlings in open-field seedbeds, or can be grown in pots.

Cultivation Techniques for Elaeagnus umbellata

1. Afforestation: Elaeagnus umbellata has strong adaptability to the environment and a small crown, making it suitable for close planting, generally 1×1.5 m, with 6000-7500 plants per hectare. Before planting, dig planting holes with a diameter and depth of 60-80 cm, use farmyard manure as base fertilizer, and water thoroughly after planting the seedlings.

2. Management: In the year of planting, Elaeagnus umbellata should be cultivated and weeded in a timely manner and topdressed with fertilizer to promote seedling growth. After that, cultivate and weed 1-2 times each year. After the forest is established, prune excessively dense branches every autumn. It can be managed in a clump-branch tree form, cutting off drooping branches and tiller shoots to maintain ventilation and light penetration. After 3 years, it enters the fruiting period.