My neighbor has huge ones between our front yards in dappled sun. Hers are quite vigorous and thrown long branches 10-15 feet into our yard. They are lovely!

Ok, great. I'm putting them in front of that shed in my neighbor's yard!

FWIW, I was just reading about Russian Olives recently and they are considered to be potentially invasive. They have high water/nutrient requirements and can rob those from surrounding plants and take over an area real fast. Wyoming has declared them a noxious weed and won't allow them to be sold in the state. Just wanted to pass that info along. I've always liked the look of them when quite small, but they can get 35' tall I have read.

I never have seen elaeagnus taller than about six feet, I've never known anybody to water them, and I've never known them to die voluntarily LOL. I don't think they'll be a problem, and it sounds like they will solve your problem.

I've never seen one taller than 6' either! People keep telling me they can reach 10-12....must depend on light and supplemental watering.

Mine in Copper Canyon are 10 to 12 feet.

I'll see if I can get a discreet picture in the morning. I think she pruned them already but they are really tall and throw long branches out sideways into my yard and her driveway.

I bought a few of them, and the tag even says "can reach 10-12 feet."

I wonder if the ones I typically see are severely pruned. I know my neighbor cuts his way back. Just when they start to look full and pretty, he trims them to about 3 feet tall...and then they look horrible until they fill in again, haha!

Thanks for the picture, PKponder! Very pretty, I can see why you like them.

There's an office here in town that has eleagnus across the front of the building, Facing East, under two huge pecan trees, so they are in shade except for the very early morning. The landscaper keeps them trimmed to to about 4.5-5 feet, so the long shoots don't last very long LOL one summer I tried to root some of them without success.

I really need something that will reach 10-12 feet :/. Now I'm thinking I should use Nellie Stevens Holly instead.

There are other selections of Elaeagnus besides the invasive E. angustifolia. Elaeagnus pungens is one, as is the hybrid X ebbingeii. In fact, they are recommended in my area for dry shade so not sure where the concept of high water and nutrient consumption is coming from. These get to be good sized shrubs - 15'x15' - but will grow faster/larger with routine irrigation.

These are the ones I got. So maybe they will get that big, gardengal! I didn't realize there were different types and sizes.

I had one removed from my yard because it was in the wrong spot and taking everything over. Now I need a quick hedge to block out a barn and heavy equipment stored in the lot behind me. I was thinking oh yeah that bush. I have since read they pull nitrogen from the air and fertilize the plants and trees in the surrounding area. If you need a fast growing hedge up to 15 feet tall and have room for them to spread out then this is for you. The bush I hated, I now love. It's a pretty bush, you either have to keep it trimmed several times a year or give it room to grow. Yes I have heard it can be invasive, but it's readily used in NC.