Elaeagnus (Oleaster)

Name: latinization of the Greek 'elaiagnos', the name Salix fragilis L. in Theophrastus, from 'elaia' — olive and 'agnos' — the "chaste tree" (Vitex agnus-castus L). Due to the similarity of the fruits and leaves.

Description: the genus comprises 40 species occurring in the southern regions of Europe, Asia and North America.

Small deciduous or evergreen trees, often growing as shrubs, with attractive silvery shoots and leaves, fragrant flowers, fruits — drupes. Undemanding, light-loving, drought-resistant, good honey plants. Due to the presence of nodules on the roots with nitrogen-fixing bacteria they are species that improve the soil and are able to grow on extremely poor soils. The main method of propagation is by seed. The best sowing time is September—October. For spring sowing a 3-4 month stratification at a temperature of 10-15°C is necessary. Evergreen species are propagated by green cuttings. All species of loch are of interest as ornamental plants.

It is difficult to establish the date when species of this genus were first tested in the open ground in St. Petersburg: the mentions in the 1816 catalogue of Е. angustifolia L, and then in 1824 by F. Fischer of this species and Е. orientalis L, most likely refer to their cultivation in greenhouses or a potted arboretum. It should be assumed that the first to appear in the open ground was Е. commutata Bernh, better known under the name Е. argenteaPursh (until 1835—2005): in 1857 E. Regel referred to it as a species winter-hardy in St. Petersburg. In 1835 this loch was mentioned as fruiting in the «Seed List» of the Garden. Е. angustifolia was attempted to be grown in the open ground in 1903—1904, but later it grew in the park from 1949 to 1985. At present this species exists only in the collection of the Introductory nursery of medicinal plants in the Botanical Garden.
Trials of Е. orientalis in the open ground began at the end of the 19th century (1897—1900 — seeds brought by V. I. Roborovsky), then there were repeated attempts to grow the eastern loch in 1912—1916 and in 1952—1962. At the beginning of the 20th century in the potted arboretum Е. multiflora Thunb was maintained. It has been growing in the open ground since 1956 (seeds from Sakhalin Island) to the present.

based on materials:www.flower.onego.ru