On Sat, 18 Sep 2004 11:16:06 +0100, Janet Galpin
wrote:

I grew an Eleagnus angustifolia from seed partly inspired by URG
discussion of the scent. It has only been planted three years but was
quite vigorous and tall (8-10 ft). It's been gradually leaning over and
I thought it was too heavy for me to be able to stake it effectively.
Today it's finally uprooted in the wind.

Are they prone to instability?
Is there any chance of succeeding with cuttings and, if so, any tips?
Janet G

Don't know about E. angustifolia, but E. ebbingei does pretty easily
from cuttings. Just do the usual, i.e. semi-ripe growths about 4 - 6
inches long with a heel, into a typical rooting medium. Now should be
a good time to take them.

As for instability, E. ebbingei can be very fast growing: mine, big
and well established, will easily put on four feet of long whippy
growth in a year, and the top can outgrow the roots when they're young
(I suspect the variegated versions are less vigorous). It does no harm
to cut E. ebbingei hard back quite regularly, and I suspect E.
angustifolia will be similar. It gives the roots a chance to catch up
with the tops, IYSWIM. I had another in a very exposed position that
blew over, partly because I didn't cut it back.


--
Chris

E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net