PLANT OF THE WEEK

Some shrubs are meant to stand in the spotlight while others are reliable old troupers content to stay backstage, and it’s into this latter camp that Elaeagnus x ebbingei falls.

It’s a silvery-grey evergreen, densely clad with oval-ish leaves – the sort of thing that makes a good background for a flower border or a sturdy hedge that withstands wind and salt spray.

You can clip it into formal shapes, while the foliage makes a good backdrop for flower arrangements. In autumn, it produces tiny, pale, bell-shaped flowers that are hidden away in the twiggy framework of the shrub.

It sounds a bit disappointing, but wait until you smell the glorious perfume. Elaeagnus x ebbingei isn’t fussy about soil and grows in sun or shade.

If you want something showier, choose a yellow/green variegated form such as “Limelight” or “Gilt edge”, although their scent is barely detectable.