Autumn Olive Shrub

The autumn olive, a shrub native to Asia that came to North America as an ornamental plant during the 19th century, can easily overpower botanical ecosystems, according to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. These tall, hardy shrubs grow in a variety of soils.

Description

Autumn olive shrubs produce oval or lance-shaped leaves with silvery-colored undersides, small white or yellow flowers and pink berry-like fruits. These shrubs may reach up to 20 feet in height. They resemble the Russian olive, but they lack that plant's thorns.

Growing Environment

Autumn olive shrubs grow well in many different types of soil, growing alongside sources of water such as streams while also thriving in open fields. They re-grow rapidly after burning or cutting, making them difficult to control through those methods.

Problems

Autumn olive shrubs may invade areas populated by indigenous plant species and crowd those species out through overgrowth. In some cases this overgrowth may disturb the nitrogen cycles of the environment, killing off the native plants. the University of Maine Cooperative Extension states that removing autumn olive shrubs before they become established remains the most effective way of controlling them.

References

• University of Maine: Autumn Olive/Russian Olive