Russian Olive
Nature Hills Nursery, Inc.
3334 North 88th Plaza
Omaha, NE 68134
Russian Olive Details:
Plant Facts
Mature Height
15 - 25 feet
Mature Spread
15 - 25 feet
Soil Type
Widely Adaptable
Moisture
Widely Adaptable
Mature Form
Irregular
Growth Rate
Rapid
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Flower Color
Creamy, Yellow
Fall Color
Yellow to Orange
Foliage Color
Silvery
Zones
2-7
The Russian Olive tree, Elaeagnus Angustifolia, is an excellent windbreak and wildlife tree. It is extremely tolerant of environmental factors. The best windbreak tree for high wind areas. Pictured is the Russian Olive in a tree form. Russian Olive trees can be made into a hedge by planting 10’ apart in the row. The Russian Olive has low water requirements and displays a high tolerance for salt and alkali. Its stems, buds, and leaves have a dense covering of silvery to rusty scales.
Leaves are egg or lance-shaped. At three years of age, plants begin to flower and fruit. Highly aromatic, creamy yellow flowers appear in June and July and are later replaced by clusters of abundant silvery fruits. Wildlife loves the fruit. Prized for its silvery gray foliage. Prefers a sunny location and is tolerant of most soil types.
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Reviews:
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[3 / 5 stars] [3 / 5 stars] [3 / 5 stars] [3 / 5 stars] [3 / 5 stars] Russion Olive-zone 5, 2/5/2007 8:38:30 PM
Reviewer: Cat
Really slow growing. Pretty leaves (silvery gray. A lovely change. Also, nice bark. 3 years old and has yet to bloom the yellowish flowers but this site says "At three years of age, plants begin to flower and fruit", so I am looking forward to spring!! .
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[1 / 5 stars] [1 / 5 stars] [1 / 5 stars] [1 / 5 stars] [1 / 5 stars] chuck, 4/9/2007 10:22:35 AM
Reviewer: chuck2001
The russian olive is a miserable scurge of the earth. Make sure to plant this if you like to have an area of your yard overrun with a thorny waterhog. No wonder the Ag department has a program to eliminate them from dried streambeds. The russian olive is next to be put on the list of noxious weeds. Make sure to plant them now so that you may have a fine specimen to propigate the species once they are no longer allowed in the state. No wonder most of the states around us no longer allow them to be planted.
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[5 / 5 stars] [5 / 5 stars] [5 / 5 stars] [5 / 5 stars] [5 / 5 stars] love this tree, 4/21/2007 11:13:05 PM
Reviewer: J9
The wonderful fragrance of the blossoms on a warm July evening is intense and almost hypnotic. Beautiful leaves.
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[4 / 5 stars] [4 / 5 stars] [4 / 5 stars] [4 / 5 stars] [4 / 5 stars] Adds variety in tough climates!, 6/4/2007 3:52:39 PM
Reviewer: Northern Girl
I live in Northern Canada (not the District of Colubia, actually...British Columbia) where most of the trees look the same due to the tough northern climate. I bought this tree and it had a difficult first year, but had planted it with rich soil and it is doing great. I love the leaves and it adds great character to my yard.
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[5 / 5 stars] [5 / 5 stars] [5 / 5 stars] [5 / 5 stars] [5 / 5 stars] Amazing Olive, 7/4/2007 7:16:01 AM
Reviewer: mouse
Currently living in Montreal, (Quebec) Canada: Zone 4/5 I had an olive tree on my property when I moved in that measured about 20feet and it was starting to look a bit sad. After calling a professional I was told that my poor tree was sick and needed to be chopped down. Unfortunately there was a bare spot left on my lawn following the removal and I have been wondering what to re-plant since last year. This tree is so hardy, Ive got branches pushing up where my old tree was and it appears disease-free. Im leaving it alone so far and its about 18inches tall and bush-like. What a hardy tree! I would recommend to anyone =)
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[1 / 5 stars] [1 / 5 stars] [1 / 5 stars] [1 / 5 stars] [1 / 5 stars] Exotic Invasive, 11/13/2007 12:22:13 PM
Reviewer: DE
Eleaegnus augustifolia is an exotic species that takes over native plants. Yes, it does provide some wildlife food, but disrupts the native plants in which animals from America have evolved to depend on. DO NOT PLANT THIS SPIECIES.
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[4 / 5 stars] [4 / 5 stars] [4 / 5 stars] [4 / 5 stars] [4 / 5 stars] fair tree, 12/3/2007 8:50:55 PM
Reviewer: jim Roseville
Smells great in June and July, but grows wild. Need to keep trim, or it will take over your yard
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[5 / 5 stars] [5 / 5 stars] [5 / 5 stars] [5 / 5 stars] [5 / 5 stars] Great Windbreak, 3/4/2008 5:53:48 PM
Reviewer: Java
I grew up with these in the windbreak of our farm in Wyoming (zone 3), and I remember the wonderful fragrance from the flowers in the spring. I also remember the birds enjoying the fruit in the fall. Yes they have thorns, but their magnificent cracked raggedy bark and the silvery leaves makes them a standout in my book.
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[4 / 5 stars] [4 / 5 stars] [4 / 5 stars] [4 / 5 stars] [4 / 5 stars] Majestic Russian, 9/28/2008 1:20:25 AM
Reviewer: dndheng
I am sorry to see the negative reviews of this Majestic tree. Admittedly, it can be messy when it doesn't receive enough water as the limbs can get woody or die and the olives might be considered a nuisance by some people. However, it's canopy is exquiste, drooping and arched; it's silvery leaves gracing our gardens, ponds and Tortoise habitats, providing shade, delicious fragrance as well as food and shelter for a myriad of other natural birds & animals indigious to our area. ~ We are in the High Desert of Southern California so definitely need drought-tolerant trees and this Olive takes more water than we were advised, actually more water than we expected but it has not proven invasive in our very alkali area. Fairly fast growing, it tolerates our cold winters, frost and snow and everyone that has visited our Preserve and our home have, without exception, commented on its beauty. We are sorry we don't have more of them!
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[4 / 5 stars] [4 / 5 stars] [4 / 5 stars] [4 / 5 stars] [4 / 5 stars] Not a windbreak tree, 2/14/2009 11:47:33 PM
Reviewer: MightyRando
My dad planted these trees in between 2 other rows of trees, lilac and another I am not sure of. While the other 2 rows did excellent, the we are left with only 3 russian olives out of 25. They grew fast, but after 15 years, they all died off. We are not the only ones in our area who had this problem. If you are looking for something that grows fast, but don't care if it lasts too long, go for it. But I would not recommend this tree for a windbreak.
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[4 / 5 stars] [4 / 5 stars] [4 / 5 stars] [4 / 5 stars] [4 / 5 stars] It made quite the difference., 3/15/2009 4:06:28 PM
Reviewer: Nittygritty1
When our shelter belt was planted, way back in 1956, the Russian Olive tree was exualted by the county extension office and the USDA to provide protection, food, shade and stamina. In the back row, because they would grow higher, was the Caraganda, next row, Ash, then Russian Olive and Lilac. Over the years, it became apparent all the trees needed to be trimmed up and the dead wood removed. We tilled between the rows and to this day, the shelter belt is beautiful. Yes, the Russian Olive was a challenge, but the food they provided to the pheasants, sharp tail grouse and many other species during the winter was worth dealing with the negatives. They don't send runners around as many do, but multiply when their berries are scattered by the wind and also by the birds. My point is this, the prairies of Montana were never meant to foster trees.. but the Russian Olive made life bearable. The North winds blowing snow with temperatures hovering way below zero, one can always look up and in the Russian Olive trees will be families of birds eating the berries and finding the energy they need to survive the miserable cold temperatures. Also, the deer come into the shelter and forage on the Russian Olives. I do not think they are given the credit they deserve. They are very hardy and yes, when the flowers are blooming, the fragrance is nearly overpowering. First come the flowers and then come the olives that stay on the trees for the wildlife to enjoy. If you are planting a couple or so, you shouldn't be overwhelmed by them. Just keep them trimmed up and enjoy the beautiful slivery green leaves. Sometimes they will sucker off of the main trunk, just cut them off. Some produce a thorn. It's all part of this very hardy species. If you keep the dead stuff removed, they will be beautiful and last for a very long time.... or at lease until the "well-intended", tell us to remove them. The same ones who told us to plant them. I know there is a movement to take out the Russian Olive trees as there are those who consider them a weed. Perhaps to some they are, but to my family and many other rural families, the Russian Olive tree helped the other more mild species take root so like our city neighbors, we too could enjoy a tree in our back yard.
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Contact Information
Phone: (402)934-8116
Fax: 402-991-0778
Email: info@NatureHills.com
© 2002 - 2008, Nature Hills Nursery, Inc. or its affiliates.
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