Does Silverberry leaves turn a bit yellow in the winter ?

[vp999]

My old Silverberry that I acquired a few months ago leaves are looking a bit yellowish, scratched the branches and everything is still green. Is this normal or something I should be concern? Thanks in advance!

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Plants can get a golden hue from cold exposure, it's a healthy response most of the times. I don't know this species so I don't know if it should.

Ficus does it too, but that means it's dead. Junipers do it too, in their case it's normal. A winter hardy plant species showing this hue is not an issue. If a non hardy plant does it, it's a bad sign.
Keep in mind though that things can stay green in the fridge for a long time and that a bark scratch is not the best test in this case; it shows cold preservation instead of livelihood.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Maybe it’s the photo, but those leaves don’t look great.

 

[Dav4]

Gumis are semi-evergreen, varying between species and severity of winter cold. Do you know the specific species? Was it outside this winter? Mine would hold many of it's leaves through winter in GA but lost almost all of them by Thanksgiving this past fall here in MI

 

[vp999]

Here are some better pics , I know this is the evergreen type of Gumi and yes it has stayed outside all year round. I’m hoping it’s just old leaves changing.

 

[NMbonsai]

This looks like winter burn to me. Did you recently have some some low temperatures, possibly in the single digits? I have two Eleangus burkwoodii (silverberry). One is in a bonsai pot and the other is in a nursery pot. About two weeks ago, we had an overnight low that dropped to 7°F for a few hours. I had put all the bonsai into bins and covered the pots and soil surfaces with pine needles. The trees in nursery pots I grouped together against an east facing wall and banked dead leaves and bark chips against the pots, leaving the tops exposed. Most of these were deciduous or conifers, but a couple were broadleaf evergreens, including the eleangus. The upper third of the eleangus and an arbutus later showed yellowed and blistered leaves very similar to yours. The leaves on the lower part of the tree were fine, having been sheltered by the adjacent trees.
Eleangus are a tough genus. Your tree should bud out this spring with new growth, gradually dropping the damaged leaves. I guess you could accelerate the process by cutting the old leaves off, leaving the petioles. If more extreme weather is predicted for your area, I would protect the pot and soil on the ground as you would any other bonsai, but maybe put a tarp or blanket over it as well.

 

[vp999]

Thank you for your input! Yes ...This year was the coldest year in my area since 2014, some nights were in the 10s. The tree was mulched for winter protections and was on the ground the whole time thats it. Im just hoping it doesn't die on me thats all.

 

[NMbonsai]

A correction: the eleangus I referenced in the previous post is actually Eleangus fruitlandii. I confused the name with a viburnum that I am also working with, V. burkwoodii.

 

[NMbonsai]

Thank you for your input! Yes ...This year was the coldest year in my area since 2014, some nights were in the 10s. The tree was mulched for winter protections and was on the ground the whole time thats it. Im just hoping it doesn't die on me thats all.

I lived in the DC area (Maryland) for about 20 years and I remember those cold snaps that one could have, even into the late spring. I think the tree will be fine on the ground and mulched. Just be aware of any wind events that can dry it out as well.

 

[vp999]

Thank you ! I am in MD as well....Silver Spring area.

 

[defra]

It looks Hurt for sure.
I have a elaeagnus ebbingei it had some frost up to -5celcius never had the foliage do this.

 

[SeanS]

Agreed those leaves don’t look great. Like @defra our winters here only get down to -5ish C, but none of my Elaeagnus ever look like that. Those leaves look like the old ones that occasionally drop off the plant (in other words the old leaves that have already dropped off and are now drying out on the ground). Yours looks very dry and not too healthy. Did it dry out a bit/way too much at some point this winter?

 

[vp999]

Agreed those leaves don’t look great. Like @defra our winters here only get down to -5ish C, but none of my Elaeagnus ever look like that. Those leaves look like the old ones that occasionally drop off the plant (in other words the old leaves that have already dropped off and are now drying out on the ground). Yours looks very dry and not too healthy. Did it dry out a bit/way too much at some point this winter?

Thank you! I don't think it was dried out at anytime this winter as we got a lot of snow and rain this year and the snow would stayed on for weeks, the mulch on top was always moist. This winter was the coldest since 2014 and when it was no rain/snow I would make sure it would water once a week. After reading all the inputs I believe it was freeze damage....It just make the most sense to me at this point. Im doing defoliate it this week and hope it's pushing new growth.

 

[SeanS]

I’m sure it will bounce back, silverberry are very resilient from my short but encouraging experience with them so far. I agree the leaves have been damaged by something and it was probably the cold.
Very nice looking tree, has some age to it

 

[CarpenterDiaz7]

Very nice tree, has good movement and a nice canopy, I am willing it bounces back asap for ya!

 

[vp999]

Defoliated about 3 weeks ago…. There were buds forming even before the defoliation but no movements yet. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I wish you luck, but I am worried that your tree is showing significant root stress. Whoever potted it in that container appears to have slip-potted it, and there is a plug of old soil in the center, with fresh soil around the outside.

Regardless, I would expect your silverberry to be pushing new growth by now. Mine is already pushing 6" long shoots that I am waiting to harden before I defoliate and wire. I would not have advised defoliating a weak broadleaf evergreen... but we will see. I hate when I say things like this because I have been on the receiving end of bad news and I know how disappointing it can be. I hope I am wrong.

 

[vp999]

I wish you luck, but I am worried that your tree is showing significant root stress. Whoever potted it in that container appears to have slip-potted it, and there is a plug of old soil in the center, with fresh soil around the outside.

Regardless, I would expect your silverberry to be pushing new growth by now. Mine is already pushing 6" long shoots that I am waiting to harden before I defoliate and wire. I would not have advised defoliating a weak broadleaf evergreen... but we will see. I hate when I say things like this because I have been on the receiving end of bad news and I know how disappointing it can be. I hope I am wrong.

Thanks man...I really appreciate it....The old foliage was very dry and would drop at the slightest touch so I didn't see any harm defoliating it and give it a head start. Weather here has been weird ..70's for a couple days and then 50s and 30s at night the next...Hoping I will push once the weather is more stable.