Russian Olive
Elaeagnus angustifolia · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Hardwood (often considered invasive in North America)
Plant Family
Elaeagnaceae (Oleaster family)
Tree Category
Ornamental, Small Tree, Large Shrub, Windbreak
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type / Standard species
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 2 through 9. Highly adaptable to severe cold, extreme heat, and windy conditions.
About This Tree
A small, often multi-stemmed deciduous tree or large shrub reaching 10-25 feet tall. It features a irregular, rounded to spreading crown with dense foliage. Branches are often thorny, and young twigs have a silvery-white scales coating. Small, highly fragrant yellowish flowers produce small, silvery to reddish, olive-like drupes that persist into winter.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate arrangement, lanceolate to linear-oblong shaped, 1-3 inches long with smooth (entire) margins. Upper leaf surface is dull blue-green to grayish-green, while the underside is densely covered in silvery-white scales, giving the plant a distinct silvery sheen.
Bark Characteristics
Thin, smooth, and silvery-gray on young stems; mature bark becomes dark brown, reddish-brown, rough, and deeply fissured with age, often peeling off in long, thin vertical strips.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Southern Europe, Central and Western Asia; widely naturalized and invasive in western North America
Growing Season
Leafs out in mid-spring, flowers in late spring to early summer (May-June), fruits ripen in late summer to autumn (August-October), dormant in winter
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to thrive. Extremely drought-tolerant once established and highly adaptable to poor, dry, sandy, or saline soils, though it can tolerate moist conditions along riverbanks.
Mature Size
Mature height of 15 to 30 feet, with a canopy spread of 15 to 25 feet. Fast growth rate, short to medium lifespan (typically 30-50 years). Trunk diameter up to 1-2 feet.
Special Characteristics
Actively fixes atmospheric nitrogen via actinorhizal root nodules. Extremely resistant to drought, cold, air pollution, and high soil salinity. Considered a noxious weed and invasive species in many US states due to its ability to outcompete native riparian vegetation.
Wildlife & Ecology
Fruits are eaten by various songbirds, game birds, and small mammals, which spread the seeds widely. Dense, thorny growth provides excellent nesting sites and cover for wildlife. Highly attractive to pollinators like bees due to fragrant nectar-rich blossoms.