Autumn Olive

Volunteers cut thick stands of autumn olive at Terra Vista Natural Study Area.

NPS / Tim Fenner

Autumn Olive, Elaeagnus umbellata

Autumn olive is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 20 feet tall. It can tolerate drought and infertile soils, as its roots fix nitrogen. As a result, it invades grasslands, open fields, woodlands, and disturbed areas.

Identification

The leaves are egg shaped and alternate with a silvery, granular sheen to the underside. Small, light yellow, aromatic flowers appear in June and July on plants three years or older. Small, reddish fruits ripen in August and September.

Origin

Autumn olive was introduced from eastern Asia. It has been planted for wildlife food and shelter as well as for windbreaks, forest restoration, and as ornamentals.

How It Spreads

Seeds are widely distributed by birds, which eat the fruits. Each tree produces 2 to 8 pounds of seed per year and the number of seeds per pound ranges from 20,000 to 54,000.

Control Methods

Individual young plants can be pulled, making sure all roots are removed. From mid-April through October, cut larger plants at the main stem and paint the cut surface with a 10 to 20% solution glyphosate herbicide.