No two brushstrokes alike
Yellow and lime markings occupy an irregular centre while the margin remains deeper green, giving a lively rather than mechanical pattern.
Elaeagnus 'Limelight' 19cm
Normal price
€12,00
What does the legal guarantee mean for plants?
The legal guarantee concerns the plant’s conformity at delivery. It is not a guarantee of survival or growth for two years. Each issue is assessed taking into account the nature of the plant, its care and the conditions in which it is kept. Your statutory rights remain unaffected.
Elaeagnus × submacrophylla ‘Limelight’
The answer to “What should I put on the terrace?” 🏡
- Gold-green marbled leaves
- Silver leaf undersides
- Fragrant autumn flowers
- Wind and coastal tolerance
Elaeagnus × submacrophylla ‘Limelight’ is the evergreen shrub that illuminates a planting without waiting for flowers. Every leathery leaf combines irregular gold and lime brushstrokes through the centre, deeper green towards the edge and silver beneath, so the crown never looks flat. Its vigorous density brings growing volume, privacy and year-round colour, while autumn hides tiny cream flowers among the leaves and reveals them first through an unexpectedly sweet fragrance.
As a luminous backdrop behind lower planting, it makes the whole composition feel richer; planted in a row, it creates a striking gold-and-green screen. In a large container it gives increasing volume and a sense of privacy without losing the sparkle of its silvery young tips. It pairs beautifully with burgundy, copper and deep green, keeping the space bright even through the quieter months.
What makes it special
‘Limelight’ is far more than a yellow-leaved form: it combines ever-changing variegation, silvery new growth and the strong architecture of a large evergreen shrub.
Silver in motion
Young growth and leaf undersides carry silvery shield-like scales that flash whenever wind turns the foliage.
Fragrance without display
Small cream autumn flowers hide in the leaf axils but announce themselves with a strong sweet scent.
Why you will love it: it combines the permanence of an evergreen screen with changing gold, green and silver detail — plus a secret fragrant autumn season.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations A substantial evergreen presence for hedges, courtyards, coastal positions and generously sized containers.
A luminous living screen
Use it as a free shrub at the back of a border or in a line for a dense hedge. Allow for a naturally broad mature crown of roughly 2.5–4m if unrestrained, and avoid squeezing it into a narrow passage.
Copper, burgundy and clean lines
Simple, darker foliage and upright forms balance the irregular gold-green mosaic.
- Phormium ‘Sundowner’ — upright copper-pink blades make a strong linear contrast
- Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Tom Thumb’ — near-black purple foliage intensifies the yellow centre
- Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ — fine silver-green movement softens the substantial evergreen mass
Care at a glance
Light
Full sun to bright partial shade; good light sharpens the variegation.
Watering
Water deeply during establishment and whenever the upper root zone dries, especially in a pot.
Climate & hardiness
Hardy to about −15°C and tolerant of wind and coastal salt once properly established.
Safety
Ornamental use only; avoid chewing and keep fallen parts away from young children and pets.
Detailed care Complete care guide Eight practical steps for a dense crown, clear colour and well-managed growth.
Light & exposure
Give it sun or bright partial shade. Once well rooted, the crown retains its evergreen presence in coastal and windy positions; in a very hot, enclosed courtyard, favour sun until midday.
Soil & pH
It adapts to clay, loam or sandy soil and a broad pH range, provided surplus water can drain away. Improve heavily compacted soil with organic matter.
Planting
Set the root collar at the same level as before, loosen the outer area of the planting hole well, and water until the soil settles around the roots. For a hedge, base the spacing on the final thickness you want to achieve.
Watering
During the first year, maintain even moisture with deep, less frequent watering rather than small daily doses. Once established in the ground it tolerates drier periods, although prolonged drought can dull the foliage.
Growing in a container
Use a large, stable pot with clear drainage holes and a good-quality outdoor growing mix. Check moisture more often in summer and renew the outer layer of mix gradually as the plant grows.
Feeding
In the ground, a thin layer of mature compost in spring is usually enough. In a container, use balanced feed during active growth and avoid excess nitrogen, which produces long, less colourful shoots.
Pruning & reversions
Shape after the risk of severe frost has passed and selectively remove older branches so that light reaches the interior. Cut any completely green shoot out at its base, as it can outgrow the variegated crown.
Health & monitoring
This is generally a robust shrub. Check tender growth and leaf undersides for psyllids or scale insects, maintain good airflow, and avoid permanently wet soil around the base.
Development over time From a young plant to an evergreen screen ‘Limelight’ builds its roots and main framework first, then fills out in width and develops its mature multi-stemmed habit.
Root establishment
Top growth may pause while fine roots move into the surrounding soil.
Silver new shoots
Fresh tips open silver before the leaves develop their characteristic central mosaic.
Broad mature screen
Over several years the many basal stems form a dense 2.5–4m shrub unless regularly contained.
Mature habit & dimensions
Mature plant in its natural habitHeight 2.5–4mSpread 2.5–4mBroad multi-stem crown
Many woody stems open from the base into a broad uneven crown; gold appears as a different central brushstroke on each leaf, not as a uniform margin.
Form through time
The same mature frameworkEvergreenSilver new growthCream autumn flowers
Spring to early summerActive tips open silver and green as they mature above the existing gold-green evergreen crown.
AutumnTiny cream tubular flowers sit close to the shoots, partly hidden among the variegated leaves.
The crown remains evergreen; seasonality comes from silver new growth and hidden fragrant flowers, not wholesale colour change.
What to expect after planting: It is perfectly normal to see little extension growth during the first few weeks. When the fresh flush begins, the tips first appear silver, and the leaves develop their characteristic gold-and-green mosaic as they mature.
History & origin Cultivar origin Variegated ‘Limelight’ within an older hybrid.
Elaeagnus × submacrophylla ‘Limelight’ belongs to the hybrid between Elaeagnus macrophylla and Elaeagnus pungens. Camille Servettaz published the hybrid name in 1909; the same group later became more widely known in horticulture as Elaeagnus × ebbingei, a name associated with Simon Doorenbos.
‘Limelight’ is the distinct variegated selection with yellow leaf centres and green margins. Its breeder and precise introduction year remain unknown. The hybrid’s history precedes this particular selection and does not date the cultivar’s creation.
Greenleaf for Plant Nerds Science nobody asked for Botanical details for anyone who wants to know what lies behind the plant’s appearance
A silver microscopic shield
Dense peltate scales beneath each leaf reflect light, creating the flashes of silver seen whenever the foliage moves.
A partnership at the root
Like other Elaeagnus, it can form actinorhizal root nodules in partnership with Frankia bacteria, which may fix atmospheric nitrogen when the association is present.
Scent without petals
The visible cream flower is a four-lobed tubular calyx; fragrance rather than showy petals guides pollinators.
Frequently asked questions
The essential answers on position, mature size, pruning and preserving the variegated crown.
01How large does it grow without pruning?
In suitable conditions it may reach roughly 2.5–4m in height and spread.
02Will it grow in partial shade?
Yes. Bright partial shade is suitable, although stronger light usually sharpens the variegation.
03Is it useful near the coast?
Yes, once rooted it is notably tolerant of wind and salt spray.
04Why are some shoots completely green?
They are reversions. Remove the entire green shoot from its origin before it dominates.
05When should it be pruned?
Shape mainly in spring with selective cuts rather than continuously shaving the surface.
06Is it safe for pets?
It is an ornamental plant; discourage chewing and seek veterinary advice if a pet eats a significant amount.
📦 Your plant travels protected
Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.