Autumn Olive Amber - Generous - ORG

An ornamental shrub with an edible harvest

Elaeagnus umbellata ‘Amber’ is a deciduous shrub combining attractive foliage with an unusual edible crop. The leaves are green above and characteristically silvery underneath, creating a beautiful contrast when they move in the breeze. Small, pale and fragrant flowers appear in spring and attract visiting insects. ‘Amber’ really stands out when its fruit begins to ripen. Unlike the red fruit associated with many forms of autumn olive, this cultivar produces yellow to golden-yellow fruits. They generally ripen in September and October and have an aromatic, pleasantly fresh, sweet-tart flavour. Enjoy them straight from the shrub or use them for preserves, juice or compote.

A versatile shrub for a sunny position

Plant ‘Amber’ in full sun or light partial shade. It grows best in well-drained soil and, once established, is reasonably tolerant of dry conditions. Water young plants regularly after planting while they establish their root system. Its combination of attractive foliage and edible fruit makes ‘Amber’ at home in an edible garden, natural mixed hedge or forest garden. Pruning is mainly useful when you want to control the shrub’s size or shape. For more reliable and abundant fruit production, we recommend growing another cultivar of Elaeagnus umbellata nearby to encourage cross-pollination.

Pruning and care

Autumn Olive ‘Amber’ requires very little pruning. If you want to maintain its shape or control its size, prune after harvesting or in late winter. Remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, and thin out older shrubs if necessary to allow more light and air into the centre. Avoid heavy pruning, as flowers and fruit develop on older wood. Cutting back too much may reduce the following season's harvest.