Pest Photo

David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org

Russian olive

Elaeagnus angustifolia

Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) is an invasive plant. It is a native of Central Asia and was first detected in North America in late 1800's.

Russian olive is now widely grown as an ornamental plant: for its scented flowers, edible fruit, and attractive silver foliage and black bark but is considered to be an invasive species because it has low seedling mortality rates therefore crowding out native vegetation in the wild. It often invades riparian habitat.

For more information about this plant pest, see the CABI data sheet.