Elaeagnus Pungens Maculata or Oleaster Maculata

Botanical Name: Elaeagnus pungens ‘Maculata’
Synonyms: Elaeagnus pungens ‘Maculata Aurea’, Elaeagnus pungens ‘Aureovariegata’
Common Name: Oleaster Maculata

Elaeagnus Pungens Maculata, also widely known as Oleaster Maculata, is a bold and reliable evergreen shrub prized for its striking variegated foliage and year-round presence in the garden. With its distinctive golden-yellow leaves edged in dark green, this variety adds brightness and texture to planting schemes even in the depths of winter. Highly tolerant of tough conditions and offering seasonal fragrance through its small but powerfully scented autumn flowers, Elaeagnus Maculata is a superb choice for hedging, evergreen screening, or specimen planting.

Oleaster Maculata has a vigorous, bushy habit and slightly arching branches. Its leathery, elliptical leaves are perhaps its most distinctive feature – a vivid golden yellow at the centre, bordered by irregular, rich green margins. The colouring is particularly effective at brightening shaded spots, where the yellow centre catches the light and brings warmth to darker corners of the garden.

New growth emerges from subtly spiny, brownish shoots, adding a touch of texture and a degree of deterrence if used as a barrier plant. In autumn, this variety produces small, creamy-white tubular flowers which, though modest in appearance, are intensely fragrant and a valuable late-season nectar source for pollinators. These blooms are often tucked within the foliage but are well worth seeking out for their delightful scent, which resembles sweet jasmine.

Compared to other variegated cultivars such as Elaeagnus ebbingei ‘Limelight’ or Elaeagnus ebbingei ‘Gilt Edge’, Elaeagnus Maculata displays more prominent yellow-gold colouring across a greater portion of the leaf surface. While ‘Limelight’ has a softer central splash and ‘Gilt Edge’ shows creamier or paler margins, Maculata is generally the bolder and more vibrant of the trio.

Height and Width of Elaeagnus Maculata:
Over time, Oleaster Maculata can reach up to 4 metres in height and spread, though it responds well to pruning if a more compact shape or formal hedge is desired. Its growth habit is naturally dense, making it excellent for screening and privacy.

How Hardy is Elaeagnus Pungens Maculata?
Elaeagnus Pungens Maculata is extremely hardy, coping well with temperatures down to -15°C or lower (RHS H5). It is also highly tolerant of coastal winds, urban pollution, and drought once established, making it one of the toughest evergreens for UK gardens.

Uses in Garden and Landscape
This versatile shrub has a wide range of garden applications. Whether grown as a stand-alone feature shrub, incorporated into a mixed evergreen border, or clipped into a formal or informal hedge, Elaeagnus Maculata excels. Its resilience and tolerance for exposed conditions also make it ideal for boundary planting in coastal or windy areas.

The luminous foliage is especially effective when used as a backdrop for darker-leaved plants or when placed where it can catch low autumn or winter sunlight. Its autumn fragrance adds seasonal sensory interest, particularly near paths, entrances, or seating areas.

Care Tips
Plant Elaeagnus Pungens Maculata in any well-drained soil, from loam to chalk or sand. It thrives in full sun or partial shade, though the best leaf colour develops in sunnier positions. Once established, it requires minimal maintenance beyond light pruning to shape or restrict growth. Cut back after flowering if needed, avoiding excessive hard pruning into old wood, which may be slow to regenerate.

Feeding is rarely necessary, but a spring mulch of compost or general-purpose fertiliser will support healthy growth. Its resistance to pests and diseases, as well as its tolerance of dry and poor soils, makes Oleaster Maculata an excellent low-maintenance choice for year-round garden structure and colour.

Elaeagnus Pungens Maculata is a standout evergreen for bold foliage, adaptability, and fragrance, perfect for gardeners seeking beauty and resilience in one easy-care package.