Russian Olive

Russian Olive

Eleagnus angustifolia

Eleagnaceae (Russian Olive Family)

▲ ▼ wild young tree in Nebraska

▲ ▼ leaves (showing thorn-like spurs -- center right of above photo)

▲ young plant

▲ mature bark

▲ mature branch showing leaves and silvery-white fruit

▲ mature cultivated tree

Russian Olive: (pp. 286-287, Weeds of the Great Plains; not in Weeds of the Northeast)

• Large shrub to medium sized tree with gray/brown furrowed to stringy bark and silvery/bluish fuzzy, linear leaves--looks like a silvery willow
• Has tiny yellow, extremely fragrant flowers in May, followed by fruit which are silvery drupes
• Very cold and drought hardy; originally planted in windbreaks, but now has spread into pastures, range and can be difficult to control
• Still used as ornamental small tree in Midwest landscapes, but is listed as a noxious weed in a number of western states

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