 Elaeagnus angustifolia L.
DESCRIPTION: Russian-olive is a small, usually thorny shrub or small tree that can grow to 30 feet in height. Its stems, buds, and leaves have a dense covering of silvery to rusty scales. Leaves are egg or lance-shaped, smooth margined, and alternate along the stem. At three years of age, plants begin to flower and fruit. Highly aromatic, creamy yellow flowers appear in June and July and are later replaced by clusters of abundant silvery fruits. ECOLOGICAL THREAT POSED BY PLANT: Russian-olive can outcompete native vegetation, interfere with natural plant succession and nutrient cycling, and tax water reserves. Because Russian-olive is capable of fixing nitrogen in its roots, it can grow on bare, mineral substrates and dominate riparian vegetation where overstory cottonwoods have died. Although Russian-olive provides a plentiful source of edible fruits for birds, ecologists have found that bird species richness is actually higher in riparian areas dominated by native vegetation. DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES: Russian-olive is found primarily in the central and western U.S., as well as in the East (e.g., Virginia to Pennsylvania), where it occurs with its exotic partner, autumn-olive (Elaeagnus umbellata). In the West, Russian-olive occurs mainly in the Great Basin Desert region at 800-2000 feet elevation and is also abundant in riparian zones of the Great Plains, for example, the Platte River in Nebraska. HABITAT IN THE UNITED STATES: Russian-olive is found along streams, fields and open areas. Seedlings are tolerant of shade and it thrives in a variety of soil and moisture conditions, including bare mineral substrates. BACKGROUND: First cultivated in Germany in 1736, Russian-olive was introduced into the U.S. in the late 1800s, and was planted as an ornamental, and subsequently escaped into the wild. Until recently, the U.S. Soil Conservation Service recommended Russian- olive for wildlife planting and windbreaks. BIOLOGY & SPREAD: Establishment and reproduction of Russian-olive is by primarily by seed, although some vegetative propagation also occurs. The fruit of Russian-olive is a small cherry-like drupe that is readily eaten and disseminated by many species of birds. MANAGEMENT OPTIONS: Mowing hedges with a brush type mower, followed by removal of cut material may be the most effective method for eradication. Herbivorous animals are not known to feed on it and few insects seem to utilize or bother it. Canker disease is occasionally a problem but not enough to be useful as a control agent. USE PESTICIDES WISELY: ALWAYS READ THE ENTIRE PESTICIDE LABEL CAREFULLY, FOLLOW ALL MIXING AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AND WEAR ALL RECOMMENDED PERSONAL PROTECTIVE GEAR AND CLOTHING. CONTACT YOUR STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL PESTICIDE USE REQUIREMENTS, RESTRICTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS. NOTICE: MENTION OF PESTICIDE PRODUCTS ON THIS WEB SITE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE ENDORSEMENT OF ANY MATERIAL.
erbc@nmsu.edu Jeff Lovich, USGS,
Biological Research Division
Jack DeLoach, USDA
Agricultural Research Service
Tom Egan, USDI,
Bureau of Land Management
U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Flaggstaff, AZ http://www.nbs.na.edu/FNF/Vegetation/Exotics/Elaeagnus/e laeagnusangustifolia.html Virginia Natural Heritage Program - Russian-olive and Autumn-olive http://www.state.va.us/~der/dnh/inveleag.htm
AUTHOR: Rose-Marie Muzika, U.S.
Forest Service, Morgantown, WV. PHOTOGRAPH: John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Davis, CA. REFERENCES: Knopf, F.L., and T.E. Olson. 1984. Naturalization of Russian-olive: implications for Rocky Mountain wildlife. Wildlife Society Bulletin 12:289-298. Shafroth, P.R.,
G.T. Aubla, and M.L. Scott. 1995. Germination and establishment of the
native plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides Marshall subsp. moniifera)
and the exotic Russian-olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.). Conservation
Biology 9:1169-1175.
Plant
Conservation Alliance, Alien Plant Working Group.
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NATIVE RANGE: Southeastern
Europe and Western Asia