In VA, they only take about 3 years to grow to fruiting size, and then you've got a very tenacious 'weed tree' source. The berries are very tasty, they produce in abundance with absolutely no care whatsoever, and since birds love them too, both you and the birds will get enough to guarantee both jelly/jam and those weed seedlings. They're also tough as nails - really, really difficult to kill if they're growing where you don't want them. The natives can get pretty tall very quickly, too - if they aren't where you want a moderately tall shade tree at full growth, move them soon to a location that you do want a moderately tall tree. Or, you could put one or more in a container and stunt them for ease of harvest - otherwise, get a tall, sturdy stepladder! :-)

Thanks so much! This weekend I am headed to a nursery that sells native plants. To plant my hillside next to our waterfall we put in. May have to transplant this one. It really is a good size and has a lot of blooms.

Sam, The leaves are much smaller than Elaeagnus umbellata although the shape of the blossoms is almost identical. From above the leaves look a lot like common privet in size and shape, with the bottoms looking just a little whitish. The jpgs named top and bottom show both sides of the leaves of a twig, with a shoe for scale. The plant is in bloom only a short time, and small green berries follow. I don't recall exactly how long last year's berries remained attached, but they were not conspicuous at any stage, and I don't recall any color other than green. I also did not notice how many seeds they contained. The bush is deciduous and leafs out just before blooming. In fall the leaves yellow somewhat before dropping.

February - Shirley (In progress) March - Sharon April - May - Margaret June - Shirley July - Carol August - Melinda September - Jeanne October - Annie November - Maryanne December - Sheri Jayeanne will not be able to host the month of April so if anyone is interested LMK. Winners for Februarys swap. Christine-Lily Whistler (received) Annie-Lily Muscadet (received) Melinda-Lily Chill Out (sending in March) Sheri our BINGO winner- Sharon our Love Story winner- Sheri and Sharon I will list some Lilies I have ordered and you tell me which Lily you would like for your prize. The shipment will arrive in March so I will mail when I receive them. Lilies to choose from: Black Out Tiny Padhye Vermeer Dizzy Hot Line Giraffe Red Dutch Salmon Star We had a wonderful time this week-end. We love for everyone in our small immediate family going on our mini vacation with us. We took the tour on the Titanic and it was great. Makes me want to watch the movie again. Friday and Saturday night the ladies went to the movies and saw Endless Love and Monument Men. We shopped so much we had to go to the late late shows. Such fun we got back to the cabins at 12:30 each night. Funny but I'm still not tired from the lack of sleep I got. Night all, Shirley