Goumi, Elaeagnus multiflora, also known as Gumi, Natsugumi and also Cherry Silverberry, is a deciduous or semi-evergreen bush or small tree indigenous to Korea, China and Japan. Goumi grows from 2-8 meters tall, with a trunk up to 30 cm in diameter covered with a dark brown bark. The Chinese have traditionally regarded it to be amongst a group of foods that have medicinal value.

The Elaeagnus multiflora leaves are ovate to elliptic, 3-10 cm long and 2-5 cm wide, dark green on top and silver with little brown scales below. Young twigs are reddish and hairy. The cream-colored flowers are hermaphrodite, solitary or in pairs, born in the leaf axils in mid spring, little and modest but profuse and fragrant, permeating the space around them with their aroma. Flowers are pollinated by bees.

The splashy fruits of Goumi are scarlet with silver spots. They are generally 2.5 cm long, and swing on 2-3 cm long stems. When ripe in mid to late summertime, the fruit becomes edible, juicy and sweet with acidic overtones. Fruit is consumed raw or cooked and make a very worthy dessert fruit.

The fruit is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamins A, C and E, flavonoids and some other bio-active compounds. It is also a moderately good source of essential fatty acids, which is unusual for a fruit. The fruit contains a single large seed that can be consumed raw or cooked. It can be consumed together with the fruit although the seed case is kind of fibrous.

Goumi is fast growing plant and with the assistance of symbiotic root occupying bacteria (as with legumes), it gets its own nitrogen, therefore needing little fertilizer and can grow in nutritionally poor soils.

Propagation is by seeds but they could take up to 18 months or sometimes more to germinate. Elaeagnus multiflora is in general an easily grown plant. It is drought tolerant, can live in salty or alkaline soils, but demands well-drained soil. 'Red Cherry is a choice cultivar with aromatic flowers and tasty red fruits.

The plant requires full sun for best results but it can grow in semi-shade. It seldom has insect or disease problems and tolerates atmospheric pollution. Elaeagnus multiflora is a member of the family Elaeagnaceae the genus Elaeagnus.

Goumi, Elaeagnus multiflora

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The key to successful fruit and nut production is the provision of a beneficial environment for the trees that bear them.