Autumn Olive
Elaeagnus umbellata · Elaeagnaceae (Oleaster family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous shrub or small tree
Shape
Elliptical to ovate with an acute to obtuse apex and cuneate base
Margin
Entire and slightly wavy
Arrangement
Alternate along the twig
Venation
Pinnate with a prominent central midrib and looping lateral veins
Key Features
Distinguished by its alternate, simple leaves with distinctly silvery-scaled undersides, smooth entire margins, brownish-silvery twigs, and small red, silver-speckled fruits ripening in autumn
Description
Autumn Olive is a large, spreading deciduous shrub or small tree that typically grows up to 15-20 feet tall. It features dark green foliage with striking silvery undersides, fragrant pale yellow flowers in spring, and an abundance of small, speckled red berries in autumn. The stems often bear thorny or spiny branchlets, making it a dense thicket-forming shrub.
Habitat
Found in disturbed areas, old fields, forest edges, open woods, and roadsides; highly adaptable to various soil types including poor, dry, or nitrogen-deficient soils, preferring full sun to partial shade
Native Range
Native to eastern Asia (China, Japan, Korea); introduced to North America as an ornamental and wildlife plant, where it is now widely naturalized and often invasive across the eastern and central United States