Goumi berry
Elaeagnus multiflora
Goumi is a multi-stemmed shrub that produces sweet-tart, silver-speckled red, cherry-sized fruits. The fruit has a unique flavor which we love. Goumi can produce prolific crops, even in partial shade. We have had 3 year old shrubs produce 8 quarts of fruit, easily. Goumi is also a nitrogen-fixing species! They take nitrogen out of the atmosphere and transfer it to the soil by a relationship with a bacteria that lives in their roots. This improves the fertility of the surrounding soil.
Goumi flowers in early spring, attracting a multitude of different pollinator support species. When flowering, the shrub is loaded with hundreds of fragrant blooms. From these beautiful blooms, comes the abundance of fruit, which has a very unique appearance with its silver specks. The berries are somewhat firm and can be stored easily in the refrigerator or freezer after storing.
Goumi berries are a great source of vitamin A and E, bioactive compounds, minerals, flavonoids and proteins. The lycopene content of Goumi is the highest of any known food and is being used in the prevention of heart disease and cancers and in the treatment of cancer. Cooking the fruit further increases the lycopene content. The fruits and seeds of the Goumi also have a high content of essential fatty acids, which is unusual for a fruit. The seeds are also edible and are high in proteins and fats.
In our area, birds seem to ignore the fruit, much to our delight. Goumi is self-fertile and will produce fruit reliably without a pollinator. We have not seen it being bothered by any diseases or pests. For commercial growers, Goumi has fresh market potential as an offering through farmers markets, food coops, and other specialty food stores. It could also be incorporated into a U-pick operation.
Height at maturity: 6-8'
Spread at maturity: 6-8'
Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Container Size: 1 gallon
Height at time of sale: 16-24"