Elaeagnus 'Gilt Edge'

Elaeagnus 'Gilt Edge' is one of those evergreen shrubs that earns its keep, with bright variegated leaves that keep a border looking lively even in winter. It’s particularly useful along a boundary or fence line, where you want year-round screening without a gloomy, solid block of green. Elaeagnus x ebbingei 'Gilt Edge' forms a rounded, medium-to-large shrub over time, making it ideal for screening in beds and borders or as part of an informal hedge. It’s a low-maintenance shrub that sits well in cottage-style planting, and the creamy leaf margins look especially good next to darker evergreens or purple-leaved shrubs. If you like structure with a bit of lightness, this is a strong choice. Grow it in sun or semi shade in chalky, loamy or sandy soil, and it’s tolerant of acidic, neutral or alkaline conditions. It’s very hardy and copes in both exposed and sheltered positions, which is handy in open gardens. Trim lightly once or twice a year to keep it dense and in shape, and it will stay smart with very little fuss.