Elaeagnus multiflora var. multiflora ("Natsugumi")

Japanese name: ナツグミ （夏茱萸、夏胡頽子）
Scientific name: Elaeagnus multiflora var. multiflora

[Overview]
A small deciduous tree 3–4 m tall.
The young branches and leaf stalks are densely covered with pale brown scales.
Leaves are simple and alternate; those at the base of long and short branches are small, about 1–1.5 cm long and 0.5–0.8 cm wide, and they grow larger toward the branch tips, to 3.5–8 cm long and 1.8–3 cm wide.
The leaves are elliptic; at first the upper surface is densely covered with silvery scales, which later fall off.
The underside is densely covered with silvery scales, mixed with brown scales on leaves at the base of the branches.
The leaf margin is entire.
The leaf stalk is 0.7–1.1 cm long.
The flowers are solitary in the leaf axils, and there are male flowers and bisexual flowers.
The flowers have no petals and are pale yellow, with a tubular calyx that is 4-lobed at the tip.
The fruit is an elliptic false fruit about 1.5 cm long and 1 cm across that ripens red, hanging on a fruit stalk 2.5–5 cm long.

[Uses]
The fruit is sweet and edible, and is also used medicinally.
The root and root bark are also used medicinally.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained, fertile soil.
Avoid places that become extremely dry.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient unless summer brings a long spell of sunny weather and the soil dries out.
Apply organic fertilizer around the plant in winter, and place slow-release fertilizer on the soil in autumn.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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