Red Gem Goumi plant (Elaeagnus multiflora 'Red Gem') is a deciduous shrub that produces edible, silver speckled, red fruit. Little known in North America, the goumi fruit has a sweet-tart flavour, resembling a tart cherry or apple. Each berry contains a soft chewable seed that is rich in healthful oils/fats. Red Gem Goumi berry is a great source of vitamins A, C, E, flavonoids, and lycopene, a heart healthful antioxidant. From Eastern Russia, the Red Gem Cherry Silverberry variety is especially valued for its high productivity but also large, high quality, tasty fruit. The fruit can be enjoyed raw, dried, or cooked in pies and preserves. Red Gem Goumi Berry Tree is partially self-fertile, meaning it will likely have increased fruit yield if planted near other varieties (such as 'Carmine' or 'Sweet Scarlet'). Although some references claim it is partially self-fertile, others claim goumi shrubs produce plenty of fruits whether or not they are planted near a companion for cross-pollination. The Red Gem Goumi plant has slow-growing, thorny branches and attractive silver-dark green foliage with bronze speckles. Silvery-white, bell-shaped flowers appear between May and June and have a strong, pleasant fragrance. While the berries may appear ready earlier, it is recommended to wait until they are very soft and almost over-ripe for the sweetest possible flavour. Fruit is usually ripe and ready to consume in late spring (mid-June). The abundant, early blooms are also beneficial for pollinator species. A rather robust plant, Red Gem Cherry Silverberry tree can be grown in hardiness zone 4b (-31.5 °C). This nitrogen fixing shrub is very adaptable, tolerating poor rocky or sandy soil, salt, drought, and air pollution. The goumi root system forms a symbiotic relationship with bacteria actinobacterium Frankia that can catch atmospheric nitrogen and stock it in the ground to feed it to surrounding plants.
