Silverberry (Wolf Willow) vs Alpine Currant - TreeTime.ca

Silverberry (Wolf Willow) vs Alpine Currant

Elaeagnus commutata

Ribes alpinum

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Silverberry (Wolf Willow)
Alpine Currant

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.

Alpine Currant is a great shrub to plant along sidewalks, near building or at your property boundary as a hedge or accent species. It is widely used by commercial landscapers in parking lots and near buildings because of its hardiness, attractiveness, and pollution tolerance.

While Alpine Currant produces edible berries, they are not palatable.

Silverberry (Wolf Willow) Quick Facts

Alpine Currant Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 2a
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: any
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: high
Suckering: low


Foliage: silvery leaves
Foliage: glossy green
Flowers: yellow
Flowers: greenish yellow and fragrant
Berries: silver, edible
Berries: small, bright red
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: american silverberry, silver berry, wolf willow
Other Names: mountain currant