Silverberry (Wolf Willow) vs Black Hawthorn - TreeTime.ca

Silverberry (Wolf Willow) vs Black Hawthorn

Elaeagnus commutata

Crataegus douglasii

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Silverberry (Wolf Willow)
Black Hawthorn

Silverberry (also known as Wolf Willow) is a common native North American shrub. This beautiful ornamental plant has characteristic silver leaves and fragrant yellow flowers.

Its silver berries remain on the branches through the winter. Silverberry is cold hardy and has some ability as a nitrogen fixer. It can grow on dry to moist sandy/gravel soils. This plant is very low maintenance.

Black Hawthorn is a versatile plant that is native to wetlands and other areas with moist soils, but can also tolerate dry soils. This plant can be grown as a short shrub, or a tree reaching 30 feet tall.

Black Hawthorn is valued for erosion control and attracting pollinators. It also makes an attractive flowering ornamental that can be planted as a specimen or pruned as a hedge. It is commonly used in shelterbelts.

Silverberry (Wolf Willow) Quick Facts

Black Hawthorn Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 3a
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 8 m (25 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: high
Suckering: medium


Foliage: silvery leaves
Foliage: contains thorns
Fall colour: yellow to red
Bark: brown to gray
Flowers: yellow
Flowers: white
Berries: silver, edible
Berries: purplish-black pomes
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: american silverberry, silver berry, wolf willow
Other Names: crataegus columbiana, douglas hawthorn, douglas' thornapple