[3] Both the hybrid and 'Gilt Edge' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

[4][5] Elaeagnus × submacrophylla is an evergreen shrub, ultimately growing to about 4 m (13 ft).

Small fragrant tubular white flowers appear in autumn.

[4] The hybrid was first discovered in 1929 by Simon Doorenbos, a Dutch horticulturalist, while he was director of the Parks Department in The Hague.

Ebbinge, and the name E. × ebbingei was widely used until it was realized that the name with priority was E. × submacrophylla, published by Camille Servettaz in 1909.