Autumn Olive
Elaeagnus umbellata
Also known as Autumn Oleaster, Spreading Oleaster, Japanese Silverberry
Climate Match for your location
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A vigorous deciduous shrub with fragrant spring flowers followed by abundant red berries speckled with silver in fall. Highly invasive in many regions but valued for wildlife food and erosion control.
Why grow it
Autumn olive produces abundant small berries rich in lycopene and vitamin C, offering a reliable fruit crop where many natives struggle. Compared to native berry shrubs, it establishes quickly and tolerates poor soil, making it useful for erosion control on degraded sites. The early spring flowers attract pollinators, and birds readily consume the fruit, supporting wildlife where other food sources are scarce.
Watch out for
This shrub spreads vigorously and can self-sow prolifically in favorable conditions, requiring deliberate management to prevent it from overwhelming adjacent plantings. Where winter temperatures remain above freezing, it may retain foliage longer than expected, altering the appearance of deciduous plantings.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Elaeagnaceae
Native Range
Eastern Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A vigorous deciduous shrub with fragrant spring flowers followed by abundant red berries speckled with silver in fall. Highly invasive in many regions but valued for wildlife food and erosion control.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Autumn Olive grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Autumn olive produces abundant small berries rich in lycopene and vitamin C, offering a reliable fruit crop where many natives struggle. Compared to native berry shrubs, it establishes quickly and tolerates poor soil, making it useful for erosion control on degraded sites. The early spring flowers attract pollinators, and birds readily consume the fruit, supporting wildlife where other food sources are scarce.
Watch out for
This shrub spreads vigorously and can self-sow prolifically in favorable conditions, requiring deliberate management to prevent it from overwhelming adjacent plantings. Where winter temperatures remain above freezing, it may retain foliage longer than expected, altering the appearance of deciduous plantings.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Elaeagnaceae
Native Range
Eastern Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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