- Invasive Species Management
- Urban Forestry
- Russian Olive
Russian olive is a non-native tree that has been planted as an ornamental and restoration species but has escaped and is now impacting our riparian areas. List B noxious weed.
Clusters of light yellow aromatic flowers. May-July Photo: Jan Samanek, Phytosanitary Administration, Bugwood.org | |
Fruits are silvery-grey. Each contain one hard seed. The fruits form in groups at leaf axils. Often eaten and spread by birds. Photo: JCISM | |
leaves are alternate leaves and egg or lance-shaped with smooth margins. Leaves are narrow and 2 to 3 inches long. The upper surface has star-shaped hairs that give them a greyish-green color. The undersides have silvery-white scales. Photo: JCISM | |
Stems have stiff sharply pointed spines. Young stems are smooth and rusty colored. Photo: JCISM | |
Mature bark is shaggy and reddish-brown. Photo: JCISM | |
Young plants are shrubby and are often found in disturbed areas. Photo: JCISM | |
Mature trees are 10 to 25+ feet tall and from 4 to 20 inches in diameter. Photo: Robert Vidéki, Doronicum Kft., Bugwood.org | |
RESOURCES | BYUI Applied Plant Science Department - Russian Olive ID YouTube video |