Identifying Autumn Olive? - Ask Extension
I have many of these shrubs growing wild on my property. Is this autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)? Are the berries edible? Does this species have a ...
Knowledgebase
Identifying Autumn Olive? #716807
Asked August 23, 2020, 10:49 PM EDT
I have many of these shrubs growing wild on my property. Is this autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)? Are the berries edible? Does this species have a negative impact on any specific native trees?
Anne Arundel County Maryland
Expert Response
Yes, this is autumn olive, a foreign invasive plant. They should all be removed as soon as possible as they crowd out native plants that our native wildlife need to survive. (This was not originally grown here as food, but as a "good" shrub for birds. Bad idea. Birds spread the seeds far and wide, and they are producing berries now, so should be eliminated before the birds can do so.)
Here's help: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/autumn-olive
Ellen
Here's help: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/autumn-olive
Ellen