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Russian Olive

Information

Elaeagnus angustifolia - Elaeagnaceae Family

russian_olive_1   russian_olive_2  russian_olive_3  russian_olive_4

Identification

  • Flowers:  The fragrant flowers are 0.5-0.6 in. wide, silvery outside and yellow within.
  • Seeds:  The fruit are 0.4 in. long, yellow, and almost completely covered by densely silver scales. The fruit contain one large seed.
  • Leaves:  The leaves are simple, alternate and 1-4 in. long and have silver scales on both sides.
  • Flowering Time:  Flowers appear in May to June.
  • Life cycle:  Russian olive is a shrub or small tree that can grow to 35 ft.  The young branches are silvery while the older branches are brown. They are occasionally thorny and covered with scales. 

Impacts 

  • Russian olive grows especially well in riparian situations, but can also be found growing along roads and highways where it was once planted in the late 1800’s.     It has nitrogen fixing nodules and has a high drought and salt tolerance.
  • It is especially proficient in out-competing native plants after a flood, and can threaten large native trees, such as cottonwoods, through its ability to form dense stands.
  • Despite its invasive properties, Russian olive is still being recommended and sold to landowners for horticulture, wildlife habitats, and as windbreaks. This has likely contributed to the current widespread occurrence of Russian olive in the U.S.

 

Control

Most effective control methods

  • Russian olive seedlings and sprouts can easily be hand-pulled when the soil is moist.
  • Once it becomes firmly established, the most effective control method is the cut-stump herbicide treatment. This method is both labor-intensive and expensive, but can be highly effective, and is more target-specific than foliar applications of herbicide.
  • Most non-chemical methods for the control of large Russian olive stands are not effective.

 

Large Images

 

russian_olive_1
Norbert Frank, University of West Hungary, Bugwood.org

Russian olive: flowers and foliage

 

russian_olive_2
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

Russian olive

 

russian_olive_3
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

Russian olive: fruit

 

russian_olive_4
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

Russian olive: infestation 

 

russian_olive_5
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org

Russian olive: tree

 

russian_olive_6
Patrick Breen, Oregon State University, Bugwood.org

Russian olive: stem with thorns

 

russian_olive_7
Robert Vidéki, Doronicum Kft., Bugwood.org

Russian olive: flowers and foliage

 

russian_olive_8
Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org

Russian olive: flower

Resources

  • Russian Olive Fact Sheet

  • References

    DiTomaso, J.M., G.B. Kyser et al. (2013). Weed Control in Natural Areas in the Western United States [PDF file]. Weed Research and Information Center, University of California. Retrieved from https://wric.ucdavis.edu/information/natural-areas/wr_E/Elaeagnus.pdf View PDF

    Duncan, C. (2018, February 23). Saltcedar and Russian olive management. Retrieved from https://www.techlinenews.com/articles/2012/12/30/saltcedar-and-russian-olive-management

    Duncan, C. (2018, May 1). Herbicide application timing is key to controlling Russian olive regrowth. Retrieved from https://www.techlinenews.com/articles/2014/herbicide-application-timing-is-key-to-controlling-russian-olive-regrowth

    Invasive Species Compendium. (2018, June 20). Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian olive). Retrieved from https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/20717

    Patterson, R.K., & Worwood, D.R. (2014, January). Russian olive control—cut stump treatment [PDF file]. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1797&context=extension_curall

    Tu, M. (2003, July). Element stewardship abstract for Elaeagnus angustifolia L. [PDF file]. Retrieved from https://www.invasive.org/gist/esadocs/documnts/elaeang.pdf View PDF

    United States Department of Agriculture. (2014, September). Field guide for managing Russian olive in the Southwest [PDF file]. Retrieved from https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5410126.pdf View PDF

    Zouhar, Kris. (2005). SPECIES: Elaeagnus angustifolia. Fire Effects Information System. Retrieved from https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/elaang/all.html