Autumn Olive
Elaeagnus umbellata
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, China, Japan, Korea, Nepal, Pakistan
KENPEI
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Elaeagnaceae
- Genus:
- Elaeagnus
- Species:
- Elaeagnus umbellata
- USDA Symbol:
- ELUM
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub
- Height:
- 600 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- cream, yellow
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Brown-belted bumble (Bombus griseocollis), Common eastern (Bombus impatiens), Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica), ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) Moths:Bagworm moth (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis), Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), Hickory Tussock Moth (Lophocampa caryae), Salt Marsh Moth (Estigmene acrea) Butterflies:Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from root crown and root fragments after fire or cutting, contributing to its invasive spread.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy or loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- tolerates poor soil fertility
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 90–120 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require warm stratification followed by cold stratification. Germination can be erratic.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI