Shrub Removal: Gummi Berry (Elaeagnus multiflora)

This past week, we removed a long-time arboretum resident: one of our two Gummi Berry shrubs. One of the few intentionally-planted non-native species, these two specimens have been in the arboretum since 1997. That's nearly thirty years, older than most students on campus! When we covered these shrubs in 2019, both were healthy and prosperous. We last studied them in 2021, when they were providing some tasty treats to the Centenary squirrel population.

Entropy and time have worked together to compromise the health of one shrub. Ants and termites were present, chewing rotten wood and churning up the earth around the base of the shrub. Green leaves were still present, but three-quarters or more of the branches were bone-dry and naked. A colony of our small native black ants had taken up residence in its center. At this point, the main option presenting itself is removal.

Bare, brittle branches of the gummi berry (Elaeagnus multiflora) are pictured here. This shrub was planted as a pair, purchased from Mr. Sherwood Akin in 1997.

We see mostly dead branches, although there are a few green leaves.

During removal, the trunk of the shrub spontaneously split open, revealing plenty of rich dirt, termites, and ants where only healthy wood and roots should be.

The shrub has been converted into a large pile of branches, twigs, and poles.

Post-cleanup, only the small green sign remains, and it has since been moved over to the remaining shrub. 

We now have an opening in the landscape, and there are several months and two full seasons to think about what to plant here. 

 

Squirrels Raiding the Gummi Berry Shrubs

 Our two non-native gummi berry (Elaeagnus multiflora) shrubs, located in the arboretum near the Student Union Building, have been exceedingly productive this spring.  For more than a week they have steadily offered ripe fruits for snacking. Luckily, the squirrels didn't get the memo until this weekend. Below, we have raw footage of the squirrels raiding the gummi berry shrubs. At least six individuals were identified.

Photos and video are provided by J. L. Wright.

 

In this photo we see a squirrel on the ground and a squirrel perched in the shrub, staring down the photographer, but unable to pull themselves away from their feast.

 

It's difficult to discern the content of this image. In the video below, all is revealed. 

 

 

Gummi Berry (Elaeagnus multiflora)

In this first week of May, we have ripening fruits on the gummi berry bushes.

The orange-red fruit is certainly edible, but it might be too tart. Perhaps, pick it now, and then save it for later.

Gummi Berry (Elaeagnus multiflora)

There are two very large, healthy gummi berry bushes (Elaeagnus multiflora) in the arboretum collection. They are located near the Student Union Building. These bushes are more than 20 years old. In March of 1997, two plants in 4-gallon pots were purchased from Mr. Sherwood Akin. Two weeks later, they were planted in their present location. Today, they are in high fruit production.

The gummi berry is an exotic -- it's not native to the southeastern United States. It's native to China, Japan and Korea.

Immature fruits of the gummi berry, photographed April 28, 2019

The yellow berry is in the process of ripening. When the fruits turn bright red, then they are ready to eat!