TreeRM

Russian olive

Elaeagnus angustifolia 路 Elaeagnaceae 路 also Oleaster, Silver berry

A thorny small tree or large shrub with silvery, willow-like leaves, fragrant yellow flowers in late spring and mealy silver-to-red fruits that birds spread. It fixes nitrogen and tolerates drought, salt and cold, which is why it was planted for windbreaks and wildlife across the West; it has since taken over river corridors and wet meadows from Colorado to Washington, displacing cottonwoods and willows. It is a listed noxious weed in several western states and its sale is banned in Utah and Connecticut.

Broadleaf, drops leavesFast growingFull sunLow water
Russian olive
Katrin Schneider / korina.info, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Where it stands

Native

  • 馃嚬馃嚪 T眉rkiye 路 Native to western and central Asia.source

Invasive

  • 馃嚭馃嚫 United States 路 NC State notes it dominates riparian areas in the central and western US; naturalized from Maine to the Pacific Northwest.source
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 NM, United States 路 Class C noxious weed on the New Mexico Noxious Weed List.source
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 PA, United States 路 On Pennsylvania DCNR's invasive plant fact sheet list (combined Elaeagnus sheet).source

Prohibited

  • 馃嚭馃嚫 CT, United States 路 Potentially Invasive on the Connecticut Invasive Plant List; sale and movement prohibited by statute.source
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 UT, United States 路 Class 4 noxious weed in Utah: prohibited for sale or propagation.source
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 WI, United States 路 Restricted under Wisconsin NR 40: transport, transfer and introduction require a permit.source

Care

Not recommended for planting. Removal: cut stumps resprout vigorously and must be treated immediately with herbicide; pull seedlings. Where kept, expect canker disease and thorny litter.

Benefits

Drought tolerantSalt tolerantFixes nitrogenWindbreakBirds

Good for

Windbreak

Watch out for

Invasive elsewhereThornsMessy fruit