Russian olive is a deciduous tree native to Europe and Asia that thrives in challenging climates where other ornamentals struggle. Growing 12 to 20 feet tall and equally wide, it produces small, intensely fragrant yellow flowers in late spring that give way to silvery, olive-like edible fruit. This vigorous, fast-growing plant tolerates drought, poor soils, wind, heat, and even saline conditions, making it invaluable as a windbreak or ornamental in zones 3 through 7. Its silvery foliage and ease of cultivation have made it a beloved landscape tree across North America for over a century.
Partial Sun
Moderate
3-7
240in H x 240in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
The combination of silvery-green foliage, fragrant spring blooms, and edible fruit sets Russian olive apart from typical shade trees. It shrugs off drought, salt spray, and poor soil with remarkable resilience, thriving where many ornamentals fail. The small yellow flowers in May and June are intensely scented and attract birds, while the showy fruit provides both visual interest and a harvestable crop. Its ability to respond well to clipping means it can serve equally well as a specimen tree or a dense, practical hedge.
Russian olive serves primarily as a flowering tree and hedge plant in landscape design, valued for its ability to create structure and winter interest in difficult growing conditions. The edible, olive-like fruit attracts birds and can be harvested for culinary use, though the tree is more often grown for its ornamental qualities and its role as a practical windbreak in exposed, arid, or saline environments. Its vigor and ability to spread by root suckers and self-seeding make it particularly useful in restoration work and stabilization projects in harsh climates.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
The small, olive-like fruit appears after flowering and can be harvested when fully ripe, indicated by a silvery-golden color and soft texture. Timing typically occurs in late summer to early fall. Hand-pick individual fruits or allow them to drop and collect from the ground beneath the tree.
Russian olive responds excellently to clipping and can be pruned to grow much shorter than its natural 12 to 20 feet, making it highly adaptable for hedge applications. Remove dead or crossing branches in late winter or early spring, and thin crowded growth to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure. The tree's willingness to accept heavy pruning without complaint makes it a good candidate for rejuvenation cutting if it becomes overgrown.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Elaeagnus angustifolia, called Russian olive or oleaster, originates from the arid regions of Europe and Asia, where it evolved to survive harsh conditions. It has been widely planted throughout North America as both a functional windbreak and an ornamental, earning its place in gardens and landscapes where its toughness is genuinely needed rather than merely desired. The tree's long history of cultivation across diverse climates speaks to its reliability and the respect gardeners have developed for its ability to perform in circumstances that would exhaust other species.”