Russian Olive

Eleagnus angustifolia

Eleagnaceae (Russian Olive Family)

 

▲▼ wild young tree in Nebraska

▲▼ leaves (showing thorn-like spurs-- center right of above photo)

▲  young plant

▲ mature bark

▲ mature branch showing leaves and silvery-white fruit

▲ mature cultivated tree

Russian Olive:  (pp. 286-287, Weeds of the Great Plains; not in Weeds of the Northeast)

·         Large shrub to medium sized tree with gray/brown furrowed to stringy bark and silvery/bluish fuzzy, linear leaves—looks like a silvery willow

·         Has tiny yellow, extremely fragrant flowers in May, followed by fruit which are  silvery drupes

·         Very cold and drought hardy; originally planted in windbreaks, but now has spread into pastures, range and can be difficult to control

·         Still used as ornamental small tree in Midwest landscapes, but is listed as a noxious weed in a number of western states