HIMALAYAN SILVERBUSH

CAUTION: Although Plants For a Future tells us that the seed is edible raw or cooked, I would like to see some other sources that back this up. I would advise against eating them. If you do, be careful, as the seed is quite hard and may break a tooth. Please let me know if you know of other respected sources of information concerning the ingestion of the seeds, thanks. 

EDIBLE FRUITS: CAUTION:  Each fruit contains a single seed that is spat out, don't swallow it. "The fruits are perishable and do not stay for more that 3-4 days at room temperature." [3]
- SUMMARY OF EDIBLE FRUIT USES: RAW: Out-of-hand / Salt added, if preferred. COOKED: Chutney / Drinks / Pies / Preserves.
- Succulent and edible raw, acid and somewhat astringent, also occasionally cooked.  No known hazards. [1]  "At the markets in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand you may sometimes see heaps of red berries for sale. They resemble giant versions of the fruits of European sea-buckthorn  (Hippophaërhamnoides, Elaeagnaceae) and are quite tasty. They come from a wild shrub in the nearby mountains called ‘Ma rot’ by the locals, or Elaeagnuslatifolia (Elaeagnaceae) by the scientists." [7] Cornucopia states that “it is mainly used in preserves, pies, etc.” [10]  “It is quite popular in Megahlaya and Arunachal [India], where the fruits, picked from wild, are also offered for sale in small towns.”  The Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia tribes of Meghalaya all pick and eat these fruits raw from the wild. [15] “The fruits are eaten fresh out of hand. Some people, who find the fruits too sour for their taste, mix a little salt with the fruits.  The fruits are perishable and do not stay for more that 3-4 days at room temperature.” Tropical Fruit Forum – “Tastes to me like a tarty plum.”  Better than most Elaeagnus species.  Pick totally ripe, otherwise it will be astringent.
- NOTE: Some people, who find the fruits too sour for their taste, mix a little salt with the fruits." [3]
- NUTRITION:  The New Plantsman writes, “The fruit of many members of this genus is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals, especially in vitamins A, C and E, flavanoids and other bio-active compounds.  It is also a fairly good source of essential fatty acids, which is fairly unusual for a fruit.” 

EDIBLE SEED:  Plants for a Future tells us that the “seed [is edible] raw or cooked.  It can be eaten with the fruit though the seed case is rather fibrous.”  CAUTION: I feel that the seed may be too tough to eat.  Be careful.  I will try one and let you know how it went, the next time the fruits are ripe.
MEDICINAL FLOWERS:  According to the Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants, “the flowers are astringent and cardiac.”
MEDICINAL LEAVES: “Pounded leaves squeezed and the juice drunk in water for urinary problems.” [12] 

NITROGEN FIXER:  This species has root nodules and fixes nitrogen. [3,1]  “An excellent companion plant, when grown in orchards it can increase yields from the fruit trees by up to 10%.”  

FIREWOOD:  “The wood is a good fuel.” Sometimes gathered from the wild for fuel.  

WILDLIFE:  Pollinated by bees. "The shrubbery is a good hiding place for little birds and lizards." [7]
HEDGE: It "can be formed into a hedge." [9]
VIDEO FROM THAILAND:
YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpCFQEXAJzM
YouTube embedded link: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hpCFQEXAJzM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

NATIVE TO:  Eastern Asia, southern Asia [2], India.  “through out in the hilly regions of East India.  It is quite popular Megahlaya and Arunachal where the fruits, picked from wild, are also offered for sale in small towns.” [3] "Recorded" in "Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam." [14]
HABITAT:  Hilly areas, swamps, to elevations of 1500 metres in the Himalayas. Forest openings at elevations of 1500 - 2600 metres in Nepal. [1]
- IN THE GARDEN: "Woodland Garden, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade." [1]
DESCRIPTION: “A large woody evergreen straggling or scandent shrub, often spiny; bark blackish grey, rough, often with raised lenticels; branches densely crowded with ferruginous scales.” 
- VARIETIES: An unnamed larger-fruited variety, with fruits to 2.5 inches long, is sold at the Mustang Flea Market in Pinellas Park, Florida, that has an even more sour flavor.
- HEIGHT: To 9 feet tall. 
- LEAVES: “Leaves alternate,” “glabrescent above, clothed beneath with silvery or ferruginous scales.” 
- FLOWERS: Fragrant. "The flowers are hermaphroditic (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by bees." [1]
- FRUITS: 2.5-4 cm long, red or [occasionally] yellow when ripe. 
- BEARING AGE: "It starts bearing at 2 years after planting. A mature tree has been found  to yield around 10-15 kg fruit per tree in Megahaya, India." [3]
CULTURE:
- HARDINESS: Some sources claim that it is hardy north into USDA zone 8, others to zone 9. I have seen the low temperature listed as 20F, as well as 30F.
- NOTE ON HARDINESS: Please let me know at which temperature you see plants endure problems from cold snaps. I will make a note of it here, after some of you do. Thanks.
- LIGHT: Dappled shade best. Tolerates full sun. One source tells us that it "requires a sunny position." [1]
- SOIL: It “prefers a soil that is only moderately fertile, succeeding in poor soils and in dry soils.”  Does well in most well-drained soils.  "Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil." [1]
- NITROGEN FIXATION: "This species has a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria." [3]
- COMPANION PLANT: "An excellent companion plant, when grown in orchards it can increase yields from the fruit trees by up to 10%." [1]
- PROPAGATION:
- FROM SEEDS: Propagate from fresh seeds.  They may take up to 18 months to germinate.  They usually eventually germinate quite well. 
- FROM LAYERS AND CUTTINGS: Also by layers or cuttings. “The cuttings are rather slow and difficult to root, leave them for 12 months.”  “Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7-10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame.  Also, cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, 10-12cm with a heel, October/November in a frame.” 
- CAUTION: "The cuttings are rather slow and difficult to root, leave them for 12 months." [1]
- WATER: "You need to water it during the hottest and driest time." [7]