Scientific Name: Elaeagnus angustifolia
Common Name: Russian olive
Family Name: Elaeagnaceae
Origin: Europe
Hardiness Zone: Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C)
Plant Type: Invasive plant, Shrub - deciduous, Tree - deciduous
Mature Size: 5 - 7m x 5 - 7m (height x width)
Habit: Spreading, Upright
Form: Round
Texture: Medium - fine
Landscape Uses: Attract birds, Hedge row, Screening, Summer interest
Exposure: Full sun
Soil or Media: Rocky or gravelly or dry, Well-drained
Leaves: Simple, Alternate, Soft flexible, Pubescent, Tomentose, Lanceolate, Entire
Flowers: White, Yellow, Jul-Aug
Fruit: Achene, Drupe, Edible, (Accessory tissue), Orange, Red, Sep
Key ID Features:
Leaves alternate, lanceolate, smooth margin, lower surface with dense covering of silvery to rusty scales, 4–9 x 1-2.5cm; flowers in clusters of 1-3, 1cm long with a four-lobed creamy yellow calyx, early summer; fruit 1-1.7cm long, orange-red when ripe, covered in silvery scales. Winter ID: twigs pubescent, thorns 1.5-3cm long.