Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb., Elaeagnaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  yes

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 13 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Elaeagnus parvifolia Wall. ex Royle

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: niu nai zi

English: autumn elaeagnus, autumn olive, oleaster, spreading oleaster

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Deciduous shrubs 2-4 m tall; branches slender, spreading, more or less spiny, the young branches densely scaly.  Leaves elliptic to ovate-oblong, 4-8 cm long, 1-2 (-2.5) cm wide, upper surface sparsely white lepidote, lower surface densely white lepidote, apex acute to sometimes obtuse, petioles 0.5-1 cm long, densely white lepidote.  Flowers 1-7 in axillary umbels, densely white lepidote, pedicels 3-6 (-8) mm long, elongating up to 12 mm long in fruit; hypanthium slender, gradually narrowed at base, 5-7 mm long; calyx lobes narrowly ovate, ca 3-5 mm long.  Fruit red, fleshy, subglobose to broadly ellipsoid, 6-8 mm long"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 588).

Habitat/ecology:  "Grass- and woodland, disturbed sites.  This fast growing shrub spreads rapidly in mesic to wet habitats and disturbed areas.  It forms dense thickets displacing native vegetation and preventing the growth and regeneration of native plants.  The shrub resprouts quickly after burning or cutting.  The plant is nitrogen-fixing and grows well in soils of low fertility"  (Weber, 2003; p. 150).  "Autumn olive grows rapidly into an impenetrable, thorny thicket, usurping space from more valuable species.  The shrub can dominate almost any landscape type, from fencerows to meadows to open woods, even sand dunes and mine spoils"  (Sternberg, 1996; p. 149).

In Hawai‘i, "originally cultivated but now sparingly naturalized and spreading in mesic to wet disturbed areas" in Volcanoes National Park (approximately 5,000 ft. elevation) (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 588). 

Propagation:  "A single plant can produce 200,000 seeds each year, which are spread widely by birds" (Sternberg, 1996; p. 149).

Native range:  Asia from Afghanistan to Japan; cultivated and naturalized elsewhere (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 50)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 588) Voucher cited: Fosberg 44457 (BISH)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Thickets; (100-)500-3000 m. Gansu, Hubei, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang.
Japan Japan	Japan	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku
North Korea North Korea	North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South Korea South Korea	South Korea (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Oregon)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Washington)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Canada Canada	Canada	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Ontario
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Control:  Additional control information from the Bugwood Wiki.

Physical: Pull young seedlings. The seed source(s) must be located and destroyed for long-term control.

Chemical: "Larger individuals are cut and the cut stumps treated with glyphosate.  basal applications of triclopyr applied in early spring are also effective"  (Weber, 2003; p. 150).