Sunday, April 28, 2019

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!