Search Lethbridge.ca

Russian Olive Identification

Learn to identify this aggressive invasive species threatening Lethbridge's river valley ecosystem.

Displaces Natives: outcompetes native cottonwoods, willow and other riparian plants, reducing biodiversity and habitat quality.
Alters Soil: fixes nitrogen in ways that change soil chemistry, making it harder for native species to establish.
Forms Thickets: creates dense, impenetrable stands that reduce wildlife access and recreational enjoyment of the river valley.

Quick ID Facts

Scientific name: Elaeagnus angustifolia
Height: Usually 10-25 feet tall, sometimes taller
Growth: Often forms dense thickets along waterways
Origin: Native to Europe and Asia, invasive in North America

Key Distinguishing Features

Silvery Leaves: narrow, silvery-gray leaves with distinctive scales
Thorny Branches: sharp thorns on branches (not always present)
Alternate Leaves: leaves arranged alternately along stems, not in opposite pairs
Olive-like Fruit: small, silvery-yellow berries in late summer/fall

Leaf Characteristics

Shape & Size: leaves are narrow and lance-shaped (lanceolate), typically 1.5 - 3 inches long and 0.25 - 0.5 inches wide. They appear willow-like but are distinctive due to their color.
Colour: perhaps their most distinctive featured, the leaves are silvery-gray to silvery-green on both surfaces and covered in tiny silvery scales that give them a metallic sheen, especially when light hits them.
Arrangement: leaves are arranged alternately along the stem, not in pairs. They remain on the tree late into fall.

Bark & Branch Features

Young Bark: smooth and silvery-brown on young branches. The silvery appearance extends from the leaves to young twigs.
Mature Bark: develops into gray-brown bark with shallow furrows and ridges as the tree matures. May develop a shaggy appearance.

Many (but not all) Russian olives have sharp thorns on their branches - typically 0.5 - 2 inches long. Thorns are stiff and sharp, and found at the leaf nodes.

Flowers & Fruit

Flowers (June): small, tubular yellow flowers about 0.5 inches long. They have four lobes and emit a very strong, sweet fragrance that's often noticeable from a distance. Flowers appear in clusters.
Fruit (August-October): small, oval berries (drupes) about 0.5 inches long. They start green and ripen to silvery-yellow or beige. Resemble small olives, hence the name. The fruit is dry and mealy, with a single large pit.
Seeds: birds eat the fruit and disperse seeds widely, contributing to the tree's invasiveness. Seeds remain viable for several years.