Everyday Interviews with an Invasive Species: Autumn Olive

Added: 2026-04-30

[00:00:00]Welcome to everyday interviews with your environment. I am Erin Garrett here with Autumn Olive, Elaeagnus umbellata. So glad to interview you. Let's talk about your look. You have these beautiful silvery leaves and almost a speckled bark. I can tell you enjoy the spotlight greening up before a lot of the other woody plants leaf out in the springtime.

[00:00:19]Do you enjoy making a statement?

[00:00:21]Of course. My leaves are shimmery in the sunlight. You were brought to the US in the early 1800s as an ornamental shrub, not surprising based on your appearance, but you've also been used to stabilize soil and provide food for wildlife. How do you balance the roles of function and aesthetics?

[00:00:41]It isn't easy, but I'm very talented and great at multitasking.

[00:00:47]I've noticed that you and your friends like to get together and grow in big patches, but you also pop up in new spots. How do you do it? So, I can spread where I'm planted. The birds, they love to come and eat my delicious silver speckled red fruits. And you know what happens to those seeds? The birds leave them everywhere.

[00:01:10]While the birds do love your fruits, they don't really give them the nutrients they need. More like a sugar rush than a well-balanced meal. Well, if you say so. You're mighty challenging to get rid of. Fire isn't really helpful in knocking you back and your deep root systems make it hard to pull you out of the ground. So, often herbicides need to be used. You sure are tough to remove. I love growing in forests, along roads, and near streams. You'll have a difficult time replacing me. Autumn Olive can't actually talk to us, but it sure does make itself known on the landscape. Be sure to report and manage the invasives you see and check out everyday environment to learn more.