Ebbing's silverberry vs Japanese spindle

Ebbing's silverberry and Japanese spindle are often considered for the same spot in the garden (hedge, screening, container). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Ebbing's silverberry

Elaeagnus × ebbingei 2.5 m × 2.5 m after 10 years

A vigorous, dense evergreen shrub with leathery leaves that are glossy dark green above and silvery beneath, bearing tiny, barely visible but strongly…

Hedge

Full sun

Part shade

Shade

from about PLN 18

Japanese spindle

Euonymus japonicus 2 m × 1.5 m after 10 years

An evergreen shrub with glossy, leathery leaves that takes clipping well, so it works as a low to medium hedge, a screen or a container plant, and…

Hedge

Full sun

Part shade

Shade

from about PLN 47

Key differences

Ebbing's silverberry grows larger: 2.5 m × 2.5 m after ten years, against 2 m × 1.5 m for Japanese spindle (an estimate: sources differ).
Ebbing's silverberry grows faster than Japanese spindle.
Ebbing's silverberry tolerates drought better than Japanese spindle.
Japanese spindle also takes heavy clay, Ebbing's silverberry needs a loose, free-draining soil.
Ebbing's silverberry is non-toxic to children, Japanese spindle is not.

Which one to choose?

Ebbing's silverberry is the better choice if you want quick results, you cannot water regularly or small children use the garden.

Japanese spindle is the better choice if space is tight or the soil is heavy clay.

Watch out for

Ebbing's silverberry

In Central Europe its hardiness is borderline: below roughly minus 15 to minus 18 °C, especially in windy spots exposed to winter sun, the foliage scorches or drops and shoots of young plants may die back. In cold areas it is worth wrapping it for the first few years and mulching the base. Whole branches sometimes die suddenly for no visible reason and should be cut back to healthy wood. Less often the elaeagnus sucker distorts the leaves, and leaf spot or coral spot can appear.

Japanese spindle

Only moderately hardy in Central Europe: at roughly -15 to -20 °C, or in strong winter sun and wind, the leaves scorch, and in a hard winter shoots can die back, especially on young and variegated plants. It usually resprouts in spring, but it is a risky hedge for cold, exposed sites. Euonymus scale is a common pest, and powdery mildew attacks dense, poorly ventilated plantings.

The data side by side

Feature	Ebbing's silverberry	Japanese spindle
Group	Hedge	Hedge
Size after 10 years	2.5 m × 2.5 m (uncertain)	2 m × 1.5 m
Ultimate size	2.4–4 m × 2.4–4 m	2.5–4.5 m × 1.5–2.5 m
Growth rate	Fast	Medium
Light	Full sun, Part shade, Shade	Full sun, Part shade, Shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Hardiness	down to -18 °C (USDA 6, RHS H6)	down to -18 °C (USDA 6, RHS H6)
Heat tolerance	High	no data
Foliage	Evergreen	Evergreen
Flowering	September–November, white	May–July, green
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	High	Medium
Maintenance	Medium	Medium
Planted as a hedge	2 plants per running metre	3 plants per running metre
For dogs	Non-toxic	Toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic	Toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic	Mildly toxic
Typical price	about PLN 110 (60–100 cm)	about PLN 66 (< 40 cm)

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 26, 2026

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