Photographer:
James H. Miller Source:
USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Description:Autumn olive is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the
Oleaster family (Elaeagnaceae) that grows to approximately 20 feet in height. Leaves are dark green,
alternate, oval to lanceolate, and untoothed. The underside is covered with silver-white scales. The small, light
yellow flowers are borne along twigs after the leaves have appeared early in the growing season.
History:Introduced from China and Japan. Autumn olive was introduced into the United States in 1830 and widely planted as an ornamental, for wildlife habitat, as windbreaks and to restore deforested and degraded lands.
Biology & Spread:The small,
round, juicy fruits are reddish to pink, dotted with scales, and produced in great quantity. Birds forage on its
fruits and contribute to seed dispersal.
Ecological Threat:Autumn olive has the potential of becoming one of
the most troublesome shrubs in the central and eastern United States. It
exhibits prolific fruiting and rapid growth that suppresses native plants. It
is widely disseminated by birds and can easily adapt to many sites. Due to
its nitrogen-fixing capabilities, it has the capacity to adversely affect the
nitrogen cycle of native communities that may depend on infertile soils.
US Habitat:
It grows well in a variety of soils including sandy, loamy, and somewhat clayey textures with a pH
range of 4.8-6.5. It has nitrogen-fixing root nodules which allow it to thrive in poor soils. Mature trees tolerate
light shade, but produce more fruits in full sun, and seedlings may be shade intolerant. It does not do well on
wet sites or in densely forested areas. It is drought tolerant and may invade grasslands and sparse
woodlands. Typical habitats are disturbed areas, roadsides, pastures and fields.
Distribution
US Nativity:
Introduced to U.S.
Native Origin:
China, Korea, Japan (Alfred Rehder, Manual of Cultivated Trees and Shrubs: Hardy in North America, The MacMillan Co., New York (1967)); China, Japan, Himalayas (Bailey, L.H. and E.Z. Bailey, Hortus Third: A Concise Dictionary of Plants Cultivated in the United States and Canada, MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc., New York , (1977).); NatureServe Explorer
Resembles/Alternatives:Autumn olive is easily confused with a closely related species, Russian olive, which is also an invasive species. Russian olive has elliptic to lanceolate leaves, its branches are usually thorny, and its fruit is yellow, dry and mealy.
Manual- Seedlings and sprouts can be hand-pulled when the soil is moist to insure removal of the
root system. Note: On larger plants, cutting alone results in thicker, denser growth. Burning during
the dormant season also results in vigorous re-sprouting.
Chemical- It can be effectively controlled using any of several readily available general use herbicides
such as glyphosate. Foliar application has proven effective in controlling these species. Since
glyphosate is a nonselective herbicide it will affect all green vegetation with which it comes into
contact. Care should be taken to avoid impacting native plant species. Glyphosate herbicides are
recommended because they are biodegradable. Follow label and state requirements.
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. MENTION OF PESTICIDE PRODUCTS
ON THIS WEB SITE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE ENDORSEMENT OF ANY MATERIAL.
Listing Source
Texas Department ofAgriculture Noxious Plant List
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Prohibited Exotic Species
Invaders Program
Federal Noxious Weed
Union of Concerned Scientists
United States Forest Service Southern Research Station
Swearingen, J., K. Reshetiloff, B. Slattery, and S. Zwicker. 2002. Plant Invaders of
Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas. National Park Service and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 82 pp.
