autumn-olive Elaeagnaceae Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb. symbol: ELUM Leaf: Alternate, simple, 1 to 3 inches long, 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide, lanceolate in shape with an entire margin. Leaves are green and distinctly scaly above, silvery and scaly below. Flower: Bell-shaped, 1/2 inch long, very fragrant, lacking petals, yellow-white, appearing in spring. Fruit: Berry-like achene, red covered with silver scales, 1/4 to 1/3 inch long, sweet and juicy, matures in late summer. Twig: Young branches are silvery and scaly, and may bear thorns, later developing a light brown color; buds are small, silvery-brown and rounded, covered with 4 scales. Bark: Smooth and gray when young, becoming split and furrowed later. Form: A shrub or very small tree to 15 feet, rounded in outline. Looks like: Russian-olive - thorny-olive - buffaloberry Additional Range Information: Elaeagnus umbellata is planted in the USDA hardiness zones shown above and may seed into the landscape. See states reporting autumn-olive. More: Fall Color External Links: USDAFS Additional Silvics USDA Plants Database © Copyright 2015, Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, all rights reserved. Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson