Autumn Olive

Common Name: Autumn Olive

Specific Name: Elaeagnus umbellata

Known Occurrence at Taylor Point:

Map areas: Cliffs 2C, Bridge 4A, Roadside 5A

Category: Invasive, Non-Native, Shrub

Ecological Considerations: Elaeagnus umbellata is a deciduous shrub that grows from 3 to 25 feet high. Its leaves are silvery green on the undersides and it has brown or gray-brown bark, with scattered thorns. Its flowers are fragrant and have 4 petals and stamens, are cream to light yellow in color. In the fall autumn olive produces red juicy drupes.

Autumn Olive colonizes disturbed areas such as the edges of woods, pastures and roadsides. A nitrogen-fixing plant, it thrives in infertile soils, growing well in sandy, dry soils. It is drought tolerate and moderately shade tolerant, though it does not do well in deeply shaded environments. These plants cannot tolerate wet conditions.

Birds and small mammals eat the Autumn Olive fruits and disperse the seeds, thus enabling it to spread rapidly.

Problems Posed by this Plant: Amorpha fruiticosa is known to out-compete native species, especially along waterways above the high water line.

Native Species Affected by this Plant:

Factors Affording a Competitive Advantage to this Plant:

Autumn Olive re-sprouts vigorously, making any control work difficult and allowing it to re-grow rapidly after disturbance.

Propagation Mechanisms and Related Issues Affecting Efforts to Remove and/or Eliminate this Plant from Taylor Point:

Autumn Olive reproduces primarily by seed, assisted by small mammals and birds. It also propagates vegetatively by stump & root sprouting.

Documented Best Removal Practices and Options/Pros and Cons of Various Options:

In early spring, immediately following leaf and flower formation, hand-pull seedlings and small saplings. Repeat this throughout the growing season. Use a weed wrench for established older plants. If the plants are too large for a weed wrench, cut plants and cover cut stumps with Buckthorn Baggies. Monitor and repeat. (Suzanne Enser, TPRA CRMC Permit Request Support Paper)

Autumn Olive is difficult to control. Hand pulling seedlings is one preferred method of control; focusing first on newest infestations and highest quality areas. Cutting, girdling and burning have proven ineffective without herbicide as they stimulate sprouting. Basal bark/stem sprays may be effective in late spring or in the fall. Basal stem injection of herbicide on dormant plants can be effective with low concentrations of herbicide.

Case Studies of Removal Efforts, Lessons Learned and Recommendations:

Additional Photos: