Elaeagnus × submacrophylla 'Compacta'

RHS Plant Profile
oleaster 'Compacta'

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oleaster 'Compacta' RHS
oleaster 'Compacta' RHS / Joanna Kossak

Synonyms

Elaeagnus × ebbingei 'Compacta'

RHS Recommended

Plants for pollinators
Shrubs
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A fast-growing, dense and compact evergreen shrub, with narrow dark glossy green leaves with a silvery sheen. Small, scented white flowers appear in the autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
North–facing or South–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

RHS Recommended: for People & Planet

RHS Recommended Plants for People & Planet

For Water Resilience

Plants for Flood Resilience

Plants that can help manage heavy rain by catching rainfall, slowing surface run-off, encouraging water into the soil or taking it up through their roots, contributing to flood resilient gardens.

Plants for both Wet and Dry Conditions

Plants that cope with changing soil moisture, including wet winters and extended summer dry. Once established, they grow as wet and dry conditions alternate.

For Temperature Resilience

Plants for Temperature Cooling

Plants that cool air temperature by providing shade, transpiration, or reflection to reduce heat impact on people, animals, soil or other ground surface.

Plants for Wind Shelter

Plants with dense canopies often grown as a tall thick hedge or grouping can block wind and shelter gardens, buildings and people.

For Carbon Storage

Plants for Carbon Storage

Plants that can take up carbon (CO₂) through photosynthesis and store it within the plant or deposit it by their roots into the soil.

For Biodiversity

Plants for Pollinators

Plants that have flowering properties (pollen and/or nectar) that are particularly beneficial for pollinating insects such as bees, butterflies and hoverflies.

Growing conditions for maximum benefit

This plant will provide the maximum benefits if it is healthy and allowed to grow to maturity

For Bio-Diversity

  • Plants for Pollinators

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Elaeagnaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Elaeagnus can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs or small trees, with simple, often silvery-scaled leaves, and small fragrant tubular flowers borne in clusters in the leaf axils, and followed by small juicy fruit
Name Status
Not established

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in well drained soil in full sun or partial shade, tolerant of dry soils and coastal winds, although may become chlorotic on shallow chalky soils. This variety is also good for containers and can be clipped into standard plants

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Patio and container plants
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Hedging and screens

Pruning

pruning group 9

Pests

May be susceptible to eleagnus sucker but generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus, coral spot or leaf spot (fungal) see leaf damage on woody plants