Autumn Olive - Autumn Olive Trees

History and Description
The autumn olive came here from China, Japan, and Korea in 1830. This is a deciduous, bushy, leaf shrub. It can grow to about 20 feet tall. Its leaves are silvery-white scaly underneath, with red berries in the fall. The twigs are slim and also slivery scaly beneath. Spur twigs are common, with some side twigs, which become thorn-like at the end.

Uses
The autumn olive is used for wind breaking, and it is also used for wildlife food. The turkeys are attracted to the autumn olive.

Reproduction
The reddish to pink fruit of the autumn olive tree are produced in great abundance. The seeds are dispersed largely by birds and other animals, such as raccoons, skunks, and opossums.

Ecological Threat
The autumn olive can live through droughts. It can live in a variety of soils and reproduces rapidly. Even if it is cut down or burned, the autumn olive re-sprouts quickly. Because of these characteristics, it invades fields, woodlands, and other areas.

The autumn olive out-competes and displaces native plants. It creates dense shade which causes problems for plants that require lots of sun. The autumn olive has a special adaptation that allows it to fix nitrogen in its roots. This allows it to grow in even unfavorable soils.

Control
The most effective way to control the
autumn olive is to pull it up by hand when
it is just a small plant or seedling. If the
shrub gets too big to pull out of the
ground by hand, it will take more than
cutting it down or burning it.
Herbicides must be put on the stump
following cutting or burning.