PlantWatch

Wolf willow (Elaeagnus commutata)

Photo by L. Allen

Also known as: silverberry
French name: chalef changeant
Bloom time: May to June
Report for: AB

General: This silvery shrub is usually under 2 m tall, with rusty coloured twigs.

Leaves & Twigs: Leaves are oval-shaped (3-8 cm long) and have a distinct silvery-green colour.

Flowers & Fruit: Wolf willow flowers are small, yellow on the inside and silvery on the outside. They produce a strong musky-sweet smell. Berries are a dry silvery colour, with a relatively large, stony seed.

Habitat: Wolf willow prefers the moist edges of prairies, dry hillsides and open fields in aspen forests.

Sampling: Tag a typical shrub for observation.

To Observe:

• First bloom: when the first flowers are open on the observed shrub (three places)
• Mid bloom when 50% of the flowers are open on the observed shrub