I. Introduction: History/Identification/Threat for Russian Olive

A. Russian Olive History: Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.) is a member of the Oleaster family. Russian olive originated on the European Continent and ranged from southern Europe to western and central Asia (Little 1961). Russian olive was introduced to the United States in the early 1900’s. Tolerant to diverse site conditions, Russian olive has been planted as an ornamental (Little 1961), and used extensively in shelterbelts in the drier regions of the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains (Read 1958). In Montana, east of the Continental Divide, Russian olive trees have been used in shelterbelts, windbreaks, wildlife habitat, ornamentals and for wildlife habitat. Plants that have naturalized thrive along riparian corridors, irrigation delivery systems, pastures, saline affected areas and some wetland sites.

B. Russian Olive Identification: Russian olive is a large, thorny, perennial deciduous shrub or small tree (up to 40 feet). The leaves are alternate and simple, elliptical to lanceolate in shape, 1 to 3 inches long and ½-inch in width, scaly on the top and silvery and scaly on the bottom, dull green to gray in color. Stems may be thorny. The bark appears smooth and reddish brown to gray in younger trees and becomes unevenly rigid, wrinkled and graying in color as it matures. The fruit is berry-like, approximately ½-inch in length, dry, mealy, sweet, and edible.

C. Russian Olive Threat: Russian olive infestations threaten native plant communities in riparian areas and grasslands, as well as irrigated pastures and hay land. Russian olives have been identified along all of the watersheds in eastern Montana. Along riverine areas native cottonwood and willow species are being replaced by Russian olive through competition and succession. Russian olive grows relatively quickly and develops a dense canopy; preventing shade-intolerant native vegetation from establishing. Katz and Shafroth (2003) report that Russian olive constitutes a new functional guild; it can establish beneath the canopy of native riparian trees and can form self-replacing stands. In addition, there are selective pressures from mammals. Lesica and Miles (1999) observed that beavers select cottonwood and willow over Russian olive to forage on; providing Russian olive plants an additional competitive edge over native woody riparian vegetation.

Download the complete technical note MT-30 and attachment.

Russian olive, Elaeagnus angustifolia, is a shrub or small tree of Eurasian origin.  It was originally planted in North America as a horticultural plant but has started escaping from cultivation and invading riparian and other moist habitats in western North America. This report summarizes the results of investigations carried out in 2010 on the biology, host specificity and impact of potential biological control agents of Russian olive. The investigations were conducted in close collaboration with the Biotechnology and Biological Control Agency (BBCA), Rome, Italy, the Uzbek Academy of Sciences, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and the University of Mashhad, Iran.

Download and read the complete report.

The trees were introduced as a fast-growing, hardy tree  good for creating shelter belts, habitat and food for wildlife.  Russian Olive tree is indigenous to Europe and Asia.   It can quickly colonize in riparian areas and out compete native vegetation, interfere with natural plant succession and nutrient cycling. Read the full article about the Bureau of Land Managements efforts.

Salt Cedar & Russian Olive Control & Demonstration Act – January 2006