Any Russian Olives that are not invasive?

17 years ago

I was thinking of using them for a privacy hedge in our field, but read that they are very invasive and should not be planted.

Are there any varieties that would work?

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Comments (5)

terrene
17 years ago
I think there might be some native US species of Elaeagnus, but all I ever see around here are the non-native invasives Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) or Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata).

I have a few Autumn olive in the yard, it has nice glossy green leaves and beautiful fragrant flowers in the spring that the honeybees love. It also makes nice red berries in the fall. So it is with some reluctance that I am digging it out.

It is on the Massachusetts prohibited plant list and also on the New England Wildflower Society's Dirty Dozen list which you can find at the link below. You can also find some native alternatives to Russian Olive.

I don't have much Autumn olive but I do have a stampeding horde of European buckthorn and Asiatic bittersweet that wants to take over the back half of my lot. There must be a million of those, both mature and seedlings and I am coming to the reluctant realization that heavy equipment might be the only way to get rid of all of it. (Either that or a chainsaw and a LOT of herbicide).

Here is a link that might be useful: NEWFS FAQ on invasive plants
diggingthedirt
17 years ago
I also love eleagnus, and would grow it if it were not invasive. A good alternative that I like just as much is rosmary-lef willow, salix rosmarifolia or s. elaeagnos 'Angustifolia'.

It lacks the flowers, but has a fabulous texture, and the silver undersides of the slender leaves show a breeze beautifully. It grows quickly, does not spread, and can be hacked back if space is an issue. My yard is very small, but I would not be without this plant - it's really eye-catching, and is one of the most asked-about shrubs/trees I grow.

Photos may not do it justice, since it is best appreciated when the leaves are in motion.

I bought one of these years ago, from Conways in Rhode Island, and later realized that it's very rarely seen at garden centers. I've rooted many cuttings to satisfy friends who *must* have one when they see mine.

The link below says it tops out at 10', mine is a bit taller than that though.

Here is a link that might be useful: rosemary willow
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Just to add my two cents, since this thread has been revived... M.hat, I'm guessing the reason that you've seen these things looking tame and docile is because they're growing in a prairie, and not actually getting their preferred level of water. I believe they reach menace status when they are introduced to a waterway. I have no idea whether or not this tree is banned here or not, and it seems more invasive on the Western slope, but I wouldn't ever plant one as they are so messy. Always dropping little branches, or pieces of bark; in the spring it produces drifts of pollen and then the "olives"! Little hard, crunchy things strewn everywhere for most of the summer/fall. I also agree that the scent is wonderful, from a distance! I think having them lining my property would be extremely overpowering, and allergy producing! So Storey, I think you made the right choice even esthetically. Also, if you've got kids, these are no fun to climb! Nasty thorns everywhere! Lara
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Check out buffalo berries. The fruit really looks like the autumn olive trees above, add a nice touch of blue/green/silver to the landscape, and produce wonderful small red berries like those pictured above. When ripe, they are sour like a pie cherry or grapefruit and have a hint of grapefruit flavor and a small seed you can swallow or spit out. Their main drawback is that they are very thorny and picking the berries results in numerous pricked fingers. Best to wait until just after a good frost, then lay a tarp under the tree and shake it good to knock the berries off. It is a native, not invasive, and very hardy with few pests.
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Russian Olive has been identified by the North American Weed Management Association as one of the most serious threats in America. They have published a position paper on the Russian Olive. If you do a google search and type in Russian Olive, you will get many websites from federal and state organizations with information on the invasiveness of this plant. It is a threat to the economy, ecology and environment anywhere it is planted. Please take steps to remove it where you have it planted on your property and take the time to ask stores or nurseries to remove it from their stock where you see it for sale. From the USDA web site: Description: Russian-olive is a small deciduous tree or large thorny shrub in the oleaster family (Elaeagnaceae) that can grow 15 to 30 feet in height. It is generally rounded in shape with loose arrangement of branches. Its stems, buds, and leaves have a dense covering of silvery to rusty scales. Twigs have silvery scales and thorns on the ends. Leaves are simple, alternate, 1-3 inches long, lance-shaped and silvery on both sides. Flowers appear in June and July. They are bell-shaped, single or clustered in the leaf axils, fragrant, yellowish on the inside and silver outside. Olive like fruits are dupe-like, .5 inches long, light green to yellow with silvery scales, hard and fleshy. Plants begin to flower and fruit at three years of age. Reproduction is by seed, sprouting from buds on the root crown and suckering. Habitat: It is found along fields, open areas, grasslands, stream banks, lakeshores, roadsides, and urban areas, sandy and bare mineral soils. Seedlings are tolerant of shade and it thrives in a variety of soil and moisture conditions, including bare mineral substrates. Distribution: This species is reported from states shaded on Plants Database map. It is reported invasive in AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, MD, MI, MN, MT, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, and WI . Ecological Impacts: This invasive plant can interfere with natural plant succession, 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 over-story 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. Thank you very much Troy and Lori Zaumseil Citizens Against Noxious Weeds Invading the North
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runktrun
17 years ago
dtd,
Welcome back to dry land your wit and vast knowledge of flora and fauna certainly were missed. Hope you had an adventurous time and back home all your babies survived without you.
Now, thanks for the salix link I love the photo of s. elaeagnos 'Angustifolia' what a great alternative. I bought Salix myrilloides 'Pink Tassels' which is described as a cute thyme like ground cover that flowers in the spring. If it survives my neglect this winter I will bring some along to the swap.
Marie Tulin
17 years ago
Katy,
what swap when?
runktrun
17 years ago
Marie,
I was just assuming that there would be one in the spring. I did bump Ron's thread on the topic from last year and would love to hear your thoughts on the subject as you were a hostess to one and have a perspective that not all of us do. kt

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Any Russian Olives that are not invasive?

Comments (5)

terrene

diggingthedirt

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