Autumn olive is an Asian shrub that escaped cultivation and became across much of the eastern and midwestern United States. The leaves have silvery undersides, and small red fruit dotted with silver ripens in late summer and fall.

Appearance

Growth form
It is a densely branched shrub or small tree, commonly 10–16 ft (3–5 m) tall, and some branches bear sharp thorns.
Leaves
The simple oval leaves are green above and covered with silvery scales below. Young twigs and fruit also have tiny metallic-looking scales.
Flowers
Small, fragrant, yellowish-white tubular flowers grow in clusters where leaves join the stems.
Flowering time
In Connecticut it flowers from April through June, with the heaviest bloom around mid-May.
Fruit
Round, fleshy fruit ripens bright red from August through October and remains dotted with silvery scales.

Look-alikes

Russian oliveElaeagnus angustifolia

Russian olive has narrower leaves that look silvery on both sides and produces yellow or silvery, mealy fruit. Autumn olive has greener leaf tops and bright red fruit speckled with silver.

Why they get mixed upBoth are thorny, silvery, nonnative shrubs in the same genus.

Where it lives

Typical habitats
  • roadsides
  • old fields
  • forest edges
  • pastures
Range
It is native to Asia and was introduced to North America in the 1830s. In the United States it is widespread from the Northeast through much of the East and Midwest, with scattered populations elsewhere.
Preferred conditions
It grows best in sun on disturbed, well-drained ground and tolerates poor soil because root-associated microbes help it obtain nitrogen.
Flowering

Flowers Apr–Jun

Flowers Apr–Jun · Fruit Aug–Oct

Life cycle

Seed dispersal
Birds and mammals eat the fruit and spread the seeds.

Growing it

Propagation
It spreads mainly by seed and can resprout strongly after cutting.

Connected species

Ties with other wildlife
Many North American songbirds eat the fruit, but dense stands can replace native shrubs and simplify habitat.
Seed dispersers
  • American RobinTurdus migratorius

    American Robins have been recorded eating the fruit and can spread its seeds.

  • Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum

    Cedar Waxwings eat the red fruit and can carry its seeds away.

  • Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensis

    Gray Catbirds have been recorded eating the fruit and can spread its seeds.

Conservation

IUCN Red List
LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
Threats
In the United States the main concern is its effect on native plant communities, not risk to autumn olive itself. Many eastern states manage it as an invasive shrub.

Culture and stories

Culture and stories
  • It was later planted for wildlife cover, windbreaks, and restoration of damaged land, helping it spread beyond cultivation.
9 sources
  1. iNaturalist API: Elaeagnus umbellata
  2. GBIF Species Match: Elaeagnus umbellata var. coreana
  3. 왕보리수나무 — 국립생물자원관 한반도의 생물다양성
  4. 보리수나무 — 한국민족문화대백과사전
  5. アキグミ — 森林総合研究所九州支所
  6. ナツグミ — 森林総合研究所九州支所
  7. Elaeagnus umbellata, autumn-olive — U.S. Forest Service
  8. Invasive Plant Factsheet: Autumn olive — UConn Extension
  9. Elaeagnus umbellata — Trees and Shrubs Online
autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) — identification, habitat & look-alikes | Moeyo