Wolf Willow (Silverberry)
Elaeagnus commutata
Appearance
Wolf willow has smooth, silvery leaves up to one centimetre long, and grows up to four metres tall with its twigs covered in rusty-brown scales. It has trumpet-shaped yellow flowers, and silvery berries.
range & habitat
This shrub is found in mountainous areas on both sides of the Rocky Mountains, and in northern B.C. It likes dry sandbars, roadsides and the edge of meadows. It spreads quickly in areas disturbed by floods, landslides and development.
reciprocal relationships
Wolf willow is one of the few plants that is able to fix its own nitrogen through a partnership with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. These plants grow in harsh environments, such as on dry cliff sides. They begin to fix nitrogen into the soil and in turn, create enriched soil for new plants to grow in.
Wolf willow is an important food for moose and elk in the wintertime. The yellow flowers ripen into silvery berries, one centimetre long, with a single seed inside each one. Some birds are attracted to the seeds, and help to spread them. A few birds eat the seeds, and the shrubs provide good cover and protection for moose, deer, birds and other animals. In Alaska, the fruits are cooked in moose fat and eaten.
Wolf willow is an important food for moose and elk in the wintertime. The yellow flowers ripen into silvery berries, one centimetre long, with a single seed inside each one. Some birds are attracted to the seeds, and help to spread them. A few birds eat the seeds, and the shrubs provide good cover and protection for moose, deer, birds and other animals. In Alaska, the fruits are cooked in moose fat and eaten.
more information
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photo credit
Canva
