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Autumn olive / Elaeagnus umbellata

Autumn olive / Elaeagnus umbellata

Autumn olive / Elaeagnus umbellata

Elaeagnus umbellata

fruit-tree☀️ full-sun🪴 well drained📏 medium🌡️ RHS H6–H7
🌵 Thorny⚠️ Invasive

📋Quick Facts

Height

4.0-5.5m

Spread

4.0-5.5m

Growth

🚀 Fast

Grows quickly, needs regular attention

Care Level

👍 Moderate

Some experience helpful

Water

💧💧 Average watering

Every "7-10" days

Hardiness

Zone 4-9

Cropping Timeline

First crop
~3 years
Full production
~5 years
PlantedYear 3Year 5

Autumn olive is vigorous and starts fruiting within three years, sometimes sooner. The small speckled berries are tart-sweet and very high in lycopene. It fixes its own nitrogen so thrives in poor soil without feeding. Be aware this species is considered invasive in parts of North America, so check local regulations before planting. You will get better crops with two plants for cross-pollination, though some cultivars set fruit alone.

About

Nitrogen-fixing shrub-tree with edible tart red berries.

Top tip
Autumn olive fixes nitrogen and thrives in poor soils; prune to shape and pick berries when fully red.
Also known as: Oliwnik jesienny (Elaeagnus umbellata), Oliveira-do-outono (Eleagnus), Éléagnus à fruits (autumn olive), Eleagno autunnale, Autumn olive / Elaeagnus umbellata, Herfstolijf (Elaeagnus umbellata), Elaeagnus umbellata, Eleagno / autumn olive

Pest Resilience

4/5 — Good resilience

Very few pest issues; nitrogen-fixing and naturally robust.

Visual Characteristics

Fruits

YesEdible

Harvest: Autumn / fall

🍳

Culinary

Culinary Use

Jams, sauces, fruit leather, juicing, dried as seasoning

The autumn olive / elaeagnus umbellata year in your garden

Dispatching imaginary bots to check your garden out...
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How to Propagate

🌰Seed
Easy
🔪Division
Easy
✂️Cutting
Moderate
🌿Layering
Moderate
🔗Grafting
Advanced

This plant produces viable seeds for propagation

Hardiness Zones

H1a (tender)H7 (very hardy)
RHS H6–H7

USDA 5 equivalent

Names in Other Languages(7)