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Key characteristics

Family: Elaeagnaceae
Height: 6 to 10 feet
Width: 6 to 10 feet
Flower color: Small, silvery white, and highly fragrant
Foliage color: Green with bright yellow margins
Bloom time: Fall
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Low to moderate
Maintenance: Low; can be pruned to shape in late winter
Growing zone: USDA Zones 7 to 9
Wildlife: Bees and other pollinators

Shrubs

Elaeagnus x submacrophylla 'Gilt Edge'

Gilt Edge Oleaster

Elaeagnus x submacrophylla 'Gilt Edge' is a hardy, evergreen shrub celebrated for its eye-catching foliage and seasonal fragrance. The leaves are leathery and dark green with bright golden-yellow margins, creating a vibrant, year-round display. In autumn, small, inconspicuous silvery flowers appear, releasing a sweet, honey-like fragrance that fills the garden and attracts pollinators.

A hybrid cultivar, 'Gilt Edge' was developed for its combination of ornamental appeal and resilience.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Low to moderate

Bloom time

Fall

Find this plant

Works well in

Sun Gardens
Hedging & Privacy
Coastal Gardens
Fragrant Gardens

Companion plants

Catmint · Feather reed grass · Salvias · Coneflowers · Lavenders · Sedums

Design tip

Bright golden leaf margins can turn this substantial evergreen into an effective year-round backdrop. Its tolerance of coastal conditions makes the foliage especially useful for bringing warm color to wind-exposed plantings, while inconspicuous autumn flowers contribute an unexpected honey-like fragrance.