In the Fall, you will recognize the plentiful, bright red fruit of this bush, and its leaves, by the tiny silvery speckles covering them. The Silverberry (Elaeagnus commutate) is one related plant that resembles the Autumn Olive. Each flower has four petals, and the ½-to-¾-inch blooms are arranged in clusters of four to six. Look-alikes: Autumn olive looks similar to the closely related and also invasive Russian olive (E. angustifolia). Look-alikes: You can distinguish the Autumn Olive from other similar looking plants by the silvery scales on the lower leaf surface. Autumn olive is well established across the Mid-Atlantic due to its extensive intentional planting to provide wildlife food and revegetate mine spoils in the mid-1900s. I’ve found these shrubs growing on our land, along forest edges, and in ditches. Invasive honeysuckle It was commonly planted for wildlife food and cover. The ripe berries of the autumn olive tree are crimson in color and have a sweet yet pleasantly tart flavor, making them ideal for use in both savory dishes and dessert recipes. Photo by Dave Jackson, Leaves and unripe fruit. Autumn olive, Elaeagnus umbellata (invasive)–Autumn olive flower clusters contain up to ten flowers per cluster (compared to one to three flowers for Russian olive), red fruits, wider leaves and brown scales on new twigs instead of silver. Look-alikes: You can distinguish the Autumn Olive from other similar looking plants by the silvery scales on the lower leaf surface. Simple, elongate leaves with smooth, or entire, margins arranged alternately along the stem, each 2–4 inches long. A surfactant (e.g., CWC 90) needs to be added. While this shrub does produce huge amounts of berries eaten by birds and mammals and can thrive on reclaimed mine sites, where pH extremes and high levels of toxic heavy metals are common, these positives do not outweigh the negatives associated with this shrub's ability to invade and take over natural areas. Though abundant, the fruit are of low nutritional value to wildlife in comparison to the native shrub species they displace. Look-alikes Russian olive (Elaeagnus augustofolia) • Invasive shrub • Fruits are yellow covered with silver scales instead of red with scales. Autumn olive leafs out early and drops its leaves late, providing a long foliar application window. Additionally, this mixture reduces risk to nontargets because it has practically no soil activity and the herbicide products are labeled for aquatic applications. Its leaves are elliptically shaped and can be distinguished from other similar shrubs by the shimmery look of the silver scales found on its lower leaf surface. Additionally, the fruit of autumn olive is sometimes collected and eaten by humans, usually made into jellies or jams. The management calendar for autumn olive is quite flexible because the foliage emerges early and falls late. This shrub is native to Asia and was introduced into the U.S. in the 1830's. For larger stems, fixed-tooth, drum-type forestry cutters have the capacity to cut down large stems and also finely chop the debris. It grows in a range of habitats, including forest edges, savannas, pastures, and prairies. I don’t know what to say about that other than wonder if you are certain you ID’d the plant correctly and used autumn olive. Your email address will not be published. Autumn olive is a shrub or small tree that has distinctively silvery leaves. Cut stump treatments with oil-based triclopyr ester herbicides are applied to the cut surface as well as the bark of the stump and can be applied anytime after the stems are cut. An oil-soluble colorant should be added to improve tracking, avoid skips, and duplicate treatment. Apples and Crabapples (Malus Sp.) This will maximize cleared areas, not only producing an outcome of higher ecological value, but also creating a much greater sense of accomplishment, as autumn olive is extremely difficult to eradicate once it is established. Hang the resulting juice and pulp in a … Rapidly growing, often multistemmed, and can reach heights of up to 20 feet and spread 30 feet wide. There are several native trees and shrubs that often get confused with these Buckthorns. If you want to find some in the wild you won’t have to look very hard – they are anywhere disturbed soil is. Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) • Russian olive produces yellow fruits. Autumn olives are highly nutritious and are an excellent source of the antioxidant lycopene as well as vitamins A, C, and E.  Their high lycopene content (like tomatoes) inspired quite a few. 3. Treating sprouts with a fall foliar herbicide application (or application the following growing season) is an alternative to treating cut stumps when immediate application of the herbicide to stumps following cutting is not possible or practical. Foliar herbicide treatments with a backpack sprayer are the most effective means to treat sites with low to moderate plant densities. Autumn olive can grow 20 feet tall and 30 feet wide. At maturity, autumn olive is smaller than Russian olive and is more frequently multi-stemmed and shrubby. Photo by Dave Jackson, Silvery leaf underside. However if you notice a large bush, and go close enough to observe it, you can easily notice that honeysuckle berries have none of the mottling or speckles that are very characteristic of Autumn olive. Leaves: Autumn olive’s leaves are alternate and oval, with finely pointed tips. Intolerant of dense shade, autumn olive is most commonly found on disturbed sites with full to partial sun. Look-alikes: Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) leaves are narrow-elongate with silvery scales on both sides and fruit is mealy, yellow or silvery; thorny olive (E. pungens) has leaves that are persistent, egg-shaped with wavy margins, upper surfaces shiny green, lacking scales, and lower surfaces covered with dull white scales and dotted with light brown scales. A combination of glyphosate plus triclopyr is effective against a broad spectrum of woody species. For mowing to be effective, it must be followed with an herbicide application to cut surfaces or regrowing sprouts. This article displays images to assist with identification and provides recommendations for control, including a management calendar and treatment and timing table. Spine and stem coloring. Product names reflect the current Pennsylvania state herbicide contract; additional brands with the same active ingredients are available. It was brought to the United States in 1830 to be used for wildlife habitats, and as an ornamental.It is a member of the honeysuckle family, and there are no known poisonous look-a-like plants. As the seeds are dispersed by birds, new invasions can and will reoccur, but spot removal of a few isolated individuals is easily accomplished as a part of any invasive plant maintenance program. Title: Microsoft Word - DJE-AutumnRussianOlive-DONE.doc Author: sLanK Created Date: 8/11/2006 5:16:51 AM Autumn olive’s bell-shaped flowers are a … JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Autumn Olive Look-Alikes. My experience with this jam is that it becomes quite solid very quickly. The leaves of Russian olive are narrower than those of autumn olive, particularly relative to their length. From the East Coast as far west as Nebraska, autumn olive is an aggressive invader of roadsides, pastures, abandoned agricultural land, forest edges, and other disturbed habitats. Common Name: Autumn Olive. Other herbicides proven effective for autumn olive are 2,4-D (in combination with triclopyr), imazapyr, and dicamba, all available under many different brand names. Its form is rounded, with dense branches. Flower Time: The flowers bloom in the early spring (April-June). If you live in an autumn olive-abundant area you might be pleasantly surprised by how easy they are to find! Autumn olive trees are draught and erosion-resistant and they thrive in many different types of environments. Other disturbed locations, such as sand dunes, vacant lots, fields, railroads, pastures, and even abandoned mines are also favorite growing sites for autumn olive trees. When in doubt, remember that autumn olive trees will always have alternate leaves and small scales covering the bark, the underside of the leaf, and the fruit. Pathfinder II is a ready-to-use triclopyr ester product that can also be used, no mixing required. Autumn olive invades old fields, woodland edges, and other disturbed areas. Garlon 3A and Vastlan are both triclopyr amine formulations but have different active ingredient concentrations. The fruit persist through fall before drying up and falling off the plant. Russian olive bears a narrower leaf than does autumn olive; thus its species name, angustifolia, which means "narrow-leafed" in Latin. Photo by Dave Jackson. Shrubs: Plants that look & grow like autumn olive Buffaloberry/soapberry (Sheperdia canadensis) is in the same family as autumn olive, but it’s native to northwest lower Michigan. Prepared by Skylure Templeton, Art Gover, Dave Jackson, and Sarah Wurzbacher. To a much smaller extent, reports of wild autumn olive have been made in central States, as well as in Oregon and Washington State. Unlike many native shrub species, autumn olive matures quickly and can produce fruit in as few as three years. Look-alikes Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) leaves are narrow-elongate with silvery scales on both sides and fruit is mealy, yellow or silvery; Thorny olive (E. pungens) has leaves that are persistent, egg-shaped with wavy margins, upper surfaces shiny green, lacking scales, and lower surfaces covered with dull white scales and dotted with light brown scales. Clusters of four to six brilliantly red fruit form in late summer, each ½ inch or less in diameter, flecked with silvery scales. In a prescription to control autumn olive, plan to “save the best," or work from least to most invaded areas, such as areas where there is desirable native vegetation and few invasives. Autumn Olive is a deciduous shrub that can grow quite tall. A water-soluble colorant should be added to improve tracking, avoid skips, and duplicate treatment. 2. Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) is a nonnative invasive shrub that is nearly identical to autumn olive. The one place you probably won’t find autumn olives? The leaves have a dintinctive silver underside. Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework. A wonderfully healthy plant to compare to autumn olive is elderberry, Sambucus canadensis. By entering your email, you consent to receive communications from Penn State Extension. Leaves and Stem It can form a dense shrub layer which displaces native species and closes open areas. Replacing Autumn Olive. However, all roots must be removed, as fragments have the possibility of resprouting. Autumn olive is a shrub that can grow up to 20 feet tall and 30 feet wide. However, it is highly tolerant of salinity, extreme pH, and heavy metals, a trait that enables the plant to survive or thrive on very poor sites, including highway roadsides, mine spoils, and other post-industrial sites. Not only is Autumn Olive prolific, it can easily be differentiated from other native plants so you can prevent harvesting dangerous look alikes. Autumn olive often seem … Basal bark treatments are effective against autumn olive and can be applied throughout the year. This. Basal bark and stump treatments can be made anytime the weather permits. Native gum (Bumelia lanuginosa) also has leaves with silvery undersides and thorny twigs that are whitened, but its leaf tips are much more rounded and do not have brown dots. All in all the Autumn Olive is a fantastic addition to any garden, offering a helping hand to surrounding plants, pollinators & us berry-hungry humans alike. Autumn olive is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing up to 6 m (20 ft) in height and 9 m (30 ft) in width. Organic Treatment for Common Tomato Pests and Diseases  ». Autumn olive is most notable for its high concentration of lycopene. The reason these look may look alike to the novice is because they are both bushes. Why do we need this? The Silverberry (Elaeagnus commutate) is one related plant that resembles the Autumn Olive. The abundance of fruit, which is readily dispersed by birds, is key to the success of this species. Selectively treating knee-to-waist-high resprouts with a backpack sprayer is a relatively quick process on low-growing foliage. Its small, white tubular flowers bloom among gray-green leaves with silvery, speckled undersides. View our privacy policy. Basal bark treatments use a concentrated mixture of the herbicide triclopyr ester in basal oil applied to the entire circumference of the lower 12 to 18 inches of the intact stem, depending on its size. With these autumn olive facts in mind, let’s learn how to forage for these jewel-like rubies of the forest! Identification: Autumn Olive is a deciduous shrub that may reach between 3 to 20 feet in height. LEARN HOW TO STOP THE INVASIVE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY, Coronavirus: Information and resources for the Extension Community, Download PDF Save For Later Print Purchase Print. The Silverthorn, Elaeagnus pungens, came from China and Japan to North America some 200 years ago in the early 1800’s.It’s an ornamental landscape plant often used for hedges and barriers. If you look at berries alone, then you can also realize that the berries of false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum racemosum… It is a deciduous shrub with elliptical, lance-shaped, leaves that are silver underneath, with smoo… The Silverthorn is also closely related to the Autumn Olive and Russian Olive, both of which have edible fruit as well (E. umbellata, E. angustifolia. Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) is an ornamental shrub first introduced to North America in the mid-1800s. Aim for full coverage on stems without creating excessive runoff. Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) is an invasive shrub. Control Recommendations Foliar Spray: FS-1 • Glyphosate 3.75%, Triclopyr Amine 2.50% • Please see our Herbicide Use Suggestions and … Though they have some differences—notably Russian olive's green, mealy fruit, in contrast to the bright, mottled red fruit of autumn olive—the species are ecologically very similar and require the same control treatment. LOOK-ALIKES Two shrubs resemble Russian and autumn olive, but both have opposite leaves: Silver buffalo-berry (Shepherdia argentea) which is non-native, and the native Russet buffalo-berry (S. canadensis) which has brown-scaly young twigs and undersides of leaves. It has distinctively silvery leaves and large red berries. Look-alikes: Russian olive looks similar to the closely related and also invasive autumn olive (E. umbellata). Siberian Pea: ‘Carogana Arborescens’ Cutting or mowing effectively eliminates the shrub canopy and provides access to overgrown sites, but the plants will readily resprout. Whilst it's a high risk look (keep red wine and ketchup at … Unlike the oil-based herbicides, water-based treatments are only applied to the cut surface and must be made immediately after the stems are cut. Oil-based treatments (1:4 mixture) can be applied to the stumps anytime after cutting, while water-based (1:1 mixture) treatments should be applied as the stems are cut. Habitat. Be sure to calibrate your spray application to achieve the desired dosage, and follow the label. Their margins are wavy but do not have teeth. Autumn Olive. Autumn olive is considered a shrub but can grow tall enough to resemble a small tree. An olive autumn jam recipe is included as a great option. The autumn olive shrub is easy to identify when it is in flower or once the fruits have matured. See All Pest, Disease and Weed Identification, See All Beer, Hard Cider, and Distilled Spirits, See All Community Planning and Engagement. Why Autumn Olive is a Forager’s Delight I absolutely love the Autumn Olive. The bark is olive drab with many white lenticels and the branches contain many thorns. Shutterstock. Autumn Olive berries, sometimes called Silverberries (Elaeagnus umbellata) are the fruit of an aggressively invasive, large bush commonly found lining the edges of woods and taking over old pastures, meadows and power line corridors. Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) ... ID each plant species before attempting to consume any wild berries, and know that there are sometimes poisonous look-alikes depending on the species.) The scales on the twigs of Russian olive are silver, while the scales on autumn olive are frequently silver and rust colored. Native to China and Japan and was introduced into North America in 1830. Look-alikes Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) • Autumn olive produces red fruits that are 0.25” round. Autumn Olive Jelly makes 6 pints 16 c. raw autumn olives 2 1/2 c. sugar 1 box (1.75 oz) Sure*Jell low sugar pectin 1. This shrub grows as high as 12 feet, giving it the … A useful treatment for autumn olive is a combination of glyphosate and triclopyr amine as glyphosate alone is an ineffective foliar treatment for this species. Depending on the cultivar, the autumn olive can grow up to 20 feet tall, with about the same spread. So look in vacant lots, dirt roadsides, property edges, trail sides and parks. Description Appearance. Later in the season they may darken slightly and appear browner. Invasive Buckthorn and Native Look-Alikes European Buckthorn (green) in late fall: We have two types of invasive Buckthorn in Minnesota. Flower Time: The flowers bloom in the early spring (April-June). This shrub's silvery foliage, showy flowers, and colorful berries made it popular in landscaping, though it was also planted extensively for a period of time in natural areas to provide erosion control, wind breaks, and wildlife food. Trumpet-shaped, white to pale yellow flowers bloom in spring. Origin. The first (most common) is European Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and the second is Glossy Buckthorn (Frangula alnus). Run the raw autumn olives through a food mill to remove the seeds and small stems, passing it through at least twice. The plant is native to China, Korea, and Japan. Native Look-alikes. Despite tolerating a moderate amount of shade, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to find these berries growing in a densely wooded forest. is a major invasive species in North America. The upper surface is pale green, while the underside appears silver or white due to the presence of small silvery scales. Like other invasive shrubs, autumn olive's fruit is low in proteins and fats but high in carbohydrates, rendering it far less nutritious than fruit from the native plants that it displaces from habitats. Oil-based herbicides penetrate the plant's bark and travel systemically through the plant. As a replacment for autumn olive, plant these … All stems are ashy brown, but silvery scales are especially prominent on young stems, which sometimes appear totally gray. Smaller stems are easily cut with heavy-duty rotary or flail cutters (i.e., “bush hogs"). Entering your postal code will help us provide news or event updates for your area. Individual small plants can be pulled by hand. Basal bark and cut stump treatments provide a year-round window of opportunity. When using a new herbicide, be aware of its properties, such as soil activity and volatility. When broken open, they reveal a single seed. This is partly due to autumn olive's ability to create its own absorbable form of nitrogen, altering the local nitrogen cycle to which native plant communities are adapted. Get notified when we have news, courses, or events of interest to you. Lycopene is a well-known carotenoid thought to decrease the risk of prostate, lung, and stomach cancers, decrease LDL (bad) cholesterol, and decrease the risk of heart disease.Americans get their lycopene mostly from tomatoes, which contain about 4.6 mg of lycopene per cup. , is also called Japanese silverberry, spreading oleaster, autumn elaeagnus, or autumnberry. Autumn olives are fairly easy to identify but there are a few look-alikes to be aware of. Learn how to identify autumn olive to enjoy this invasive yet tasty and handy shrub. Scientific Name: Eleagnus umbellata . If using a different glyphosate product, be sure to check the product label to see if a surfactant is needed; some come premixed. Autumn olive is an aggressive invasive shrub that can be found throughout the eastern United States and Canada. Photo by Dave Jackson, Growth form under full sun. The leaves of autumn olive are wider than those of Russian olive, particularly relative to their length. Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) Barberry (Berberis sp.) You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. Care should be taken when collecting for consumption since heavy metals can be translocated from the roots to other plant parts, including the fruit. Autumn Olives aren’t actually an olive, or a berry at all – they are a stone fruit, like cherries and peaches. Though they have some differences—notably Russian olive’s green, mealy fruit, in contrast to the bright, mottled red fruit of autumn olive—the species are ecologically very similar and require the same control treatment. Basal bark applications wet the entire circumference of the lower 12 to 18 inches of the stem. The stems also bear sharp, stout spines. Don't be fooled by these look-alikes. The autumn olive is also known as autumn berry, silverberry, aki-gumi, and oleaster. Like autumn olive, it has silvery leaves and twigs and bright red fruits. Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) is a nonnative invasive shrub that is nearly identical to autumn olive. Its edible, red fruit is slightly speckled as well. The scales on the twigs of autumn olive are often distinctly orange or rust … Autumn olive spreads only through seed dispersal, primarily by birds. A stand out piece from the Autumn/Winter 2020 collection, we love the high waisted trousers and single breasted blazer. Reviewed by Norris Muth, Amy Jewitt, and Andrew Rohrbaugh. The shrub has alternate, elliptical leaves with a silver underside. spreads quickly because of its hardiness and dense concentration of seeds — a single shrub can yield around 200,000 seeds, potentially producing up to 80 pounds of fruit! There are some look alikes, namely amur honeysuckle. Man-made or disturbed habitats, forest edges, meadows, and fields.