Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian-olive)

Elaeagnus angustifolia

Photo copyright John Randall/TNC

Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian-olive) grows as a tree or shrub (family Elaeagnaceae) and is found in disturbed, seasonally moist places, generally below 5,000 feet (1500 m) elevation. It occurs in the San Joaquin Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Sierra Nevada, San Diego County, and parts of the Mojave Desert near springs where it crowds out native species. It is able to regenerate under a wide variety of floodplain conditions with little or no mortality after seedling development. Native cottonwoods and willows, having narrow germination and establishment requirements and intolerant of shade, are unable to regenerate under advancing populations of Russian-olive.

Cal-IPC Inventory rating: Moderate

Cal-IPC Resources on Elaeagnus angustifolia

• California Invasive Plant Inventory Assessment Form (pdf) - Information gathered by Cal-IPC on the impacts, rate of spread, and distribution of invasive plants in California. Does not include management information.
• Species account from Invasive Plants of California's Wildlands - Includes biology and management information.
• Cal-IPC News - Articles from our quarterly newsletter. Each issue is available as a pdf. List of articles on Elaeagnus angustifolia.
• Cal-IPC Symposium Proceedings - Presentations and papers from our annual Symposium. List of articles on Elaeagnus angustifolia.

Cal-IPC News Articles

• (2004). Invasive species legislation: What's hot on "The Hill". Cal-IPC News. 11: 7.
• Connick, S. and M. Gerel (2005). Don't sell a pest: A new partnership to prevent plant invasions through horticulture. Cal-IPC News. 13: 4-5,14.

Cal-IPC Symposium Proceedings

• Connick, S. and M. Gerel (2004). Partnering to prevent invasions of plants of horticultural origin. California Invasive Plant Council Symposium 2004. Ventura, CA.
• DiTomaso, J. M. (2005). Efficacy and safety of new herbicides on the horizon. California Invasive Plant Council Symposium 2005. Chico, CA.
• Heath, M., K. Moore, et al. (2005). Trees and shrubs discussion group. California Invasive Plant Council Symposium 2005. Chico, CA.
• Telllman, B. (1996). Stowaways and invited guests:How some exotic plants reached the American southwest. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium. San Diego, CA.
• Westbrooks, R. G. (2001). Invasive species, coming to America: New strategies for biological protection through prescreening, early warning, and rapid response. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium 2001. San Diego, CA.

Other Resources on Elaeagnus angustifolia

• USDA PLANTS database - Federal database with information on identification and distribution, and links to websites in individual states.
• Jepson Online Interchange for California Flora - Information on taxonomy, biology, and distribution from the UC Berkeley Jepson Herbarium.
• CalFlora - Distribution information by county based on submitted observations and herbarium specimens.
• The Nature Conservancy Management Summary - Information compiled by TNC land managers. Photos included for some species.
• CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.

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