Oleaster (Russian Olive, Silver Berry, or Wild Olive)
Elaeagnus angustifolia (ELAEAGNACEAE)
Planting and Growing Oleaster Trees
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow oleaster (Russian olive, silver berry, or wild olive) in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and fruit of oleaster
- Growing conditions for oleaster
- When to plant oleaster
- How to plant oleaster
- How to prune oleaster
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of oleaster
- Landscape uses of oleaster
- Pest and disease control for oleaster
Growing Oleaster Trees
Several varieties of fast-growing, spreading, often spiny, deciduous small trees, to 20 ft. (6 m) tall, with dull, olivelike, green, oval, pointed leaves, to 2 in. (50 mm) long, with silver undersides, and with brown, flaking bark.
Oleaster Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Fruit
Fragrant, yellow green, fluted, bell-shaped flowers, to 1/2 in. (12 mm) long, in early spring, borne in clusters at leaf axils, with olivelike, mealy, red, silver, yellow fruit on short stalks in autumn.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 3–8. Hardy.
Soil Type and Fertility
Damp, well-drained soil. Fertility: Average–low. 5.5–8.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun to partial shade. Space 12–14 ft. (3.7–4.3 m) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Allow soil surface to dry between waterings until established. Fertilize annually in spring. Prune after bloom. Propagate by cuttings, grafting, layering, seed.
About This Species
Good choice for accents, barriers, espalier, hedges in landscapes. Drought tolerant. Invasive.