autumn olive

Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.

Description from Invasive.org

Appearance: Elaeagnus umbellata is a deciduous shrub from 3-20 ft. (0.9-6.1 m) in height with thorny branches. It is easily recognized by the silvery, dotted underside of the leaves.
Foliage: Leaves are alternate, 2-3 in. (5-8 cm) long and 1 in. (2.5 cm) wide. The margins are entire and undulate. Leaves are bright green to gray green above and silver scaly beneath with short petioles.
Flowers: Small, yellowish tubular flowers are abundant and occur in clusters of 5 to 10 near the stems from February to June.
Fruit: Fruits are round, red, juicy drupes which are finely dotted with silvery to silvery-brown scales. Each drupe contains one seed. Fruits ripen from August to November.
Ecological Threat: Elaeagnus umbellata invades old fields, woodland edges, and other disturbed areas. It can form a dense shrub layer which displaces native species and closes open areas. Elaeagnus umbellata is native to China and Japan and was introduced into North America in 1830. Since then, it has been widely planted for wildlife habitat, mine reclamation, and shelterbelts. It is a non-leguminous nitrogen fixer.

Resources

A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests - USDA Forest Service
Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual - SE-EPPC
Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy
Fire Effects Information System - USDA Forest Service
Weed of the Week - USDA Forest Service
Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas - National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Selected Images from Invasive.org

View All Images at Invasive.org

Flower(s) in May
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

Bark branch bark in April
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

Bark with older stem bark starting to flake in December
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

Plant(s)
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

Foliage Shiny, silvery underside of a leaf. Appears to be covered in small dots when examined closely.
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

Plant(s)
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

Infestation
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

Twig(s)/Shoot(s) April
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

Foliage April
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

Fruit(s)
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Forestry , , Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

Infestation
David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

Flower(s)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

Fruit(s)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

Feature(s) Nitrogen-fixing nodules
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

Flower(s)
Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

Seed(s)
Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage