Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Autumn-Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata var. parvifolia)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Rhamnales>Elaeagnaceae>Elaeagnus umbellata Thunberg var. parvifolia (Royle) Schneider

Other names: Silverberry

Autumn-Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata var. parvifolia) flowers

Autumn-Olive is a fairly common to abundant evergreen large shrub or small tree from eastern Asia. One of our worst invasive weed problems.

The small white (fading to yellow) flowers have a sickly-sweet aroma.

Durham Co., NC 4/15/2011.

Autumn-Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata var. parvifolia) flowers

Autumn-Olive blooms in the spring and fruit ripens in fall, unlike Thorny-Olive (E. pungens), which blooms in fall and fruits in the spring.

Durham Co., NC 4/15/2011.

Autumn-Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata var. parvifolia) flowers

Durham Co., NC 3/25/2012.

Autumn-Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata var. parvifolia) flowers

Durham Co., NC 3/25/2012.

Autumn-Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata var. parvifolia) flowers

Flowers turn yellowish-green as they age.

Chapel Hill, NC 5/2/09.

Autumn-Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata var. parvifolia) flowers

The leaves are densely covered with silvery scales beneath and have scattered silvery scales above. The petioles and young branchlets are also covered with silvery scales.

Chapel Hill, NC 5/2/09.

Autumn-Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata var. parvifolia)

Autumn-Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata var. parvifolia) bark

Bark detail.

More information:
Exotic Pest Plants of Southeastern Forests
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk
University of Connecticut
Virginia Tech Dendrology

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