Goumi
Given Name: Elaeagnus multiflora
Nicknames: cherry silverberry, natsugumi
Family: Elaeagnaceae (Oleaster)
Well? What d'you want? Out with it- I haven't got all day.
Oh... you want to learn about me. Well, you clearly have the internet so how about you quite wasting my time and google me?
Really? You tried and didn't find out too much? Well, that figures. Even though I have fragrant spring flowers, edible berries and tolerate black walnut trees why would people bother to write about my history?
I was used in Chinese traditional medicine, in case you were wondering, but it's really hard to find out anything more than that about me. But that's how it is with you people. If a berry isn't trending, then there's not much to say about it. And I've never been the taste of the month. Although, I should have been.
I've got a complex sweet/ tart flavour and my juicy berries can be eaten raw or cooked in preserves or pies. No, I'm not bitter (at least flavour-wise).
Even with my health benefits, people still usually overlook me. You'd think that having powerful antioxidants would garner some respect. But nope, I get passed by because some people describe me as astringent! Well, that may be true but that's mostly when you pick my berries before they're fully ripe.
Yeah, it's your fault, not mine!
And don't get me started on the people who think I'm too thin-skinned to handle mass production. Maybe they should consider that not every berry needs to be mass produced to be popular. I'm the ideal shrub for home gardens: compact, low-maintenance and hedge-forming with pretty white/green flowers and leaves with silvery undersides. But even in landscaping, I'm underused. And don't even bother trying to find me at your local garden centre (even though in the last few years small town garden centres have had other unusual fruit in stock, like hardy kiwis, haskaps, gogi berries, seabuckthorn and saskatoon berries). You have to order me from “special” nurseries. Typical people behaviour!
*Sigh*
Now that you've gotten me all worked up, I need a bit of space- no, smart Alec, not the 6- 10 foot space that I need to grow! Just leave me alone.
Argh- why are you still here? Fine! If you insist I'll tell you more, but I'm not happy about it.
So, I'm from Japan and China. No? That doesn't impress you? Oh, you people are impossible! You used to think that plants from far off places were exotic and unusual. But now everybody's worried about invasive plants and disturbing natural ecosystems. I get it- you want to ensure that native flora and fauna continues to thrive. But it's not like every plant is going to take over. We're not all like my cousin, Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata). Oh, why did I bring up that bad apple (or berry, as the case may be)?
When people find out that I'm related to Autumn Olive they start in on me: “well Autumn Olive this...” and “Autumn Olive that...”. Humph! Guess what folks?
I'm not Autumn Olive!
Just because we're related doesn't mean we're exactly the same. I happen to be pretty well-behaved in the garden. But does anyone pay attention to that fact? Noooooo! They just lump us together.
Don't get me wrong- I love my cuz. Despite the ecosystem damage caused by Autumn Olive's overly enthousiastic spreading, that plant means well. If it were malicious would it fix nitrogen in the soil? You didn't know about that?
Geeze! Do I have to explain everything to you? Just like me, Autumn Olive, with the help of a bacteria attached to its roots, can convert free air nitrogen into a form that can be used by plants.
Anyway, I'm done with this inane chit chat. I've got more important things to do, like providing nectar to pollinating insects.
Good riddance,
Grouchy Goumi
References:
Crawford, M. (2010). Creating a Forest Garden: Working with nature to grow edible crops. Cambridge: Green Books Ltd., pp 59-8 and 168-9.
Elaeangus multiflora (n.d.). Missouri Botanical Garden. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=279925
Jacke, D., Toensmeier, E. (2005). Edible Forest Gardens: Volume One. White River Junction: Chelsea Green Publishing Company, pp 317-8.
Lockard, C. (2020). Elaeagnus multiflora- Goumi. Washington College. https://www.washcoll.edu/learn-by-doing/eastern-shore-food-lab/plants/old/elaeagnus-multiflora-goumi.php
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