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Woody > Elaeagnus > Elaeagnus umbellata > Elaeagnus umbellata

Elaeagnus umbellata


Autumn Olive




Origin:  Native to Eastern Asia.
Family
Elaeagnaceae
Genus
Elaeagnus
Species
umbellata
Category
Woody
Type
Shrub (deciduous)
Pronunciation
USDA Hardiness Zone
4 - 9
Canadian Hardiness Zone
3
RHS Hardiness Zone
H7
Temperature (°C)
-34 - (-40)
Temperature (°F)
-22 - (-40)
Height
22 - 45 cm
Spread
45 - 76 cm
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
AprilMayJune
Landscape
Hedge and border planting.
Cultivation
Full sun and partial-shade. Moist and well-drained soils. Drought and erosion tolerant.
Shape
Large, dense and sprawling.
Growth
Medium
Pests
Leaf spots, cankers, rust, verticillium wilt and crown gall.
Bark/Stem Description
Woody stems/trunks that rise from the base with the largest trunk maturing to 15 cm in diameter. The trunk/branches have sharp thorns. Arching branches that dip to the ground. The bark on older trunks peel in long. thin and narrow strips.
Leaf Description
Speckled and thorny stems. Elliptic leaves that are 5 - 8 cm long with entire but often wavy margins. Scales appearing on the underside.
Flower Description
Fragrant, funnel-shaped, 4-petaled flowers. 8 mm long and bloom in clusters (1 - 4 umbels) dropping from the leaf axils.
Fruit Description
Fleshy, abundant and scale-dotted fruit.
Colour Description
Stems are silvery-golden-brown in colour. The leaves are a greyish-green with distinct silver scales. The flowers are a silvery-white to dull yellow colour. The fruit ripens to a speckled red colour.
Texture Description
The leaves appear leathery.
Notable Specimens
Joany's Woods, West Williams, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada.
Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer)
The fruit is edible. Fully ripe fruits are juicy, sweet and tart. May be eaten fresh off the shrub, dried or cooked (pies, jams or preserves).
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