Brush - Range & Pasture - Russian Olive

BES-TEX BRUSH ID GUIDE

Russian Olive

Elaeagnus angustifolia

Perennial Woody Brush

Plant Type

Thorny tree; oleaster family (Elaeagnaceae)

Life Cycle

Perennial; introduced

Leaf Habit

[PLACEHOLDER]

Typical Height

10 to 25 ft (Texas A&M)

Photo Gallery

Russian olive tree with drooping branches of silvery leaves — **Whole Tree** Photo: Ruslan Kastani, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Russian olive narrow silvery leaves with small yellow star-shaped flowers — **Silvery Leaves and Flowers** Photo: Robert Flogaus-Faust, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to Identify It

Quick ID

Leaves

Narrow, 2 to 3 inches, smooth-edged, alternate
Green-gray on top, silver underneath (Texas A&M)

Thorns & Stems

Thorns 1 to 2 inches long
New growth silvery and hairy (Texas A&M)

Flowers

Yellow, bell-shaped, clustered (Texas A&M)

Fruit

Small olive-shaped fruit, silvery then tan or brown (Texas A&M)

Look-Alikes

Willow

How to tell it apart from Russian olive: [PLACEHOLDER]

Counter script: "If it is a thorny tree with narrow leaves that are silver underneath and small olive-like fruit, it is most likely Russian olive."

Where It Grows

Texas

Ecoregions (Texas A&M): Blackland Prairies, Rolling Plains, High Plains, Trans-Pecos

Oklahoma

[PLACEHOLDER]

New Mexico

[PLACEHOLDER]

Sites and soils: Low pastures, fields, and waterways where the water table is near the surface: riparian areas, floodplains, ditches, and springs (Texas A&M).

Best Time to Control

Best treatment timing for Russian olive: [PLACEHOLDER]. Follow the product label.

Russian olive is a woody perennial. No pre-emergent herbicide controls russian olive.

Treatment Methods

Herbicide Options

We did not find a Corteva non-restricted product label or Texas A&M Brush Busters guide that lists Russian olive. Call BES-TEX for help choosing a labeled option.
Rates and mixes: follow the label

Individual Plant vs. Broadcast

Density guidance for this plant: [PLACEHOLDER]
Follow the label for broadcast use

Product names are examples only. Always read and follow the product label. For product selection and help, contact BES-TEX at 325.653.1300.

Sources: Texas A&M Plants of Texas Rangelands. No Corteva non-restricted label or Brush Busters guide found listing Russian olive.