Goumi

Elaeagnus multiflora

East Asian shrub bearing tart bright-red speckled berries. Used in Japanese culinary traditions; significantly better-behaved than its invasive cousin autumn olive.

Hardiness ratings

Goumi hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 4–9 −34.4 °C to −1.1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H7 down to −20 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 4–9 −29 °C and warmer Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 1–5 −15 °C to 10 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Fixes nitrogen via Frankia bacteria (actinorhizal symbiosis) rather than the Rhizobium of legumes — a non-legume nitrogen fixer
  • Berries are tart-sweet, popular in Japanese jam and cordial making
  • Less aggressive than autumn olive — generally not considered invasive in most regions but check locally

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Goumi against your zones

Reference

Goumi on Wikipedia