Elaeagnus umbellata
Autumn Olive
a deciduous fruit tree or shrub of the Elaeagnus genus in the family Elaeagnaceae. It is a good fruiting nitrogen fixer that works well in hedges.
Taxonomy and growth
These plants are deciduous shrubs or small trees growing 3.5 m tall, with a dense, thorny crown. The leaves are alternate, 4–10 cm long and 2–4 cm wide, entire but with a wavy margin. The leaves are silvery when they leaf out early in spring due to numerous tiny scales, but turn greener above as the scales wear off through the summer (unlike the related E. angustifolia, which remains silvery to leaf fall). The flowers are clustered 1-7 together in the leaf axils, fragrant, with a four-lobed pale yellowish-white 1 cm long corolla. The fruit is a round drupe 1/4 to 1/3 inches (0.65 to 0.85 cm) long, silvery-scaled yellow, ripening to red dotted with silver or brown[21].
- Family
- Elaeagnaceae
- Genus
- Elaeagnus
- Habit
- tree, shrub
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- moderate
- Height
- 4.5 (unit unspecified)
- Spread
- 4 (unit unspecified)
- Fertility
- Self sterile, Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Flower colours
- white
- Pollinators
- insects
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
None known
Edible uses
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The flowers are astringent, cardiac and stimulant[12]. The seeds are used as a stimulant in the treatment of coughs[12]. The expressed oil from the seeds is used in the treatment of pulmonary affections[12]. The fruit of many members of this genus is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals, especially in vitamins A, C and E, flavanoids and other bio-active compounds. It is also a fairly good source of essential fatty acids, which is fairly unusual for a fruit. It is being investigated as a food that is capable of reducing the incidence of cancer and also as a means of halting or reversing the growth of cancers[11].
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Product or use
- Astringent, Cardiac, Stimulant
- Plant part
- Seed
- Product or use
- Stimulant
Material uses
- Plant part
- Wood
- Product or use
- Fuel
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy, Secondary canopy, Shrub
Very tolerant of maritime exposure, it makes a good informal hedge, succeeding even in very exposed positions[16]. The plants make a reasonable wind-protecting screen, they are about as wide as they are tall. They make a good companion hedge, enriching the soil and fertilizing neighbouring plants.
Forage
- Forage
- Bumble Bee
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China, Japan, Himalayas.
- Habitat
- Thickets and thin woods in the lowland and hills[15].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 3+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- high wind, maritime exposure, nutritionally poor soil, drought
- Wind
- Yes
- Maritime
- Yes
- Pollution
- No
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- Yes
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
seed
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[17]. It should germinate in late winter or early spring, though it may take 18 months. Stored seed can be very slow to germinate, often taking more than 18 months. A warm stratification for 4 weeks followed by 12 weeks cold stratification can help[19]. The seed usually (eventually) germinates quite well[17]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pot as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out when they are at least 15cm tall.
cutting
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Good percentage[17]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, 10 - 12cm with a heel, November in a frame. Leave for 12 months. Fair to good percentage[17].
layering
Layering in September/October [Britain]. Takes 12 months[17].
- Seed Requires Scarification
- No
- Seed Requires Smokification
- No
- Seed Requires Stratification
- Yes
- Seed Dormancy Depth
- intermediate
- Cutting Type
- hard wood, semi-ripe
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in most soils that are well-drained[3][10], though it dislikes shallow chalk soils[19]. It prefers a soil that is only moderately fertile, succeeding in very poor soils and in dry soils[3][10]. Prefers a light sandy loam and a sunny position[3]. Established plants are very drought resistant[1]. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -40°c[10]. This species is somewhat similar to E. multiflora, but it flowers a few weeks later[6]. Sometimes cultivated for its edible fruit, there are some named varieties[7]. 'Cardinal' and 'Red Wing' are very good fruiting forms (developed for ornament and not for fruit quality)[6]. 'Jazbo' has been bred for its edible fruits which are said to be ripe when 'they drop into your hand'[11]. This makes them valuable in breeding programmes to develop easily harvested fruits[11]. Flowers are rich in nectar and very aromatic, they are much visited by bees. Polymorphic[3][13]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[18][10]. Plants can fruit in 6 years from seed[5]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[5][10]. An excellent companion plant, when grown in orchards it can increase yields from the fruit trees by up to 10%.
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 32202/01/01
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 32202/01/01
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 32202/01/01
Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 32202/01/01
Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987.
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Parmar. C. and Kaushal. M.K. Wild Fruits of the Sub-Himalayan Region. Kalyani Publishers. New Delhi. 32202/01/01
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Matthews. V. The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Royal Horticultural Society 32202/01/01 ISBN 1352-4186
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 32202/01/01
Flora of Japan www.foj.info
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 32202/01/01
Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 32202/01/01
Rosewarne experimental horticultural station. Shelter Trees and Hedges. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 32202/01/01
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 32202/01/01
RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society 32202/01/01
Gordon. A. G. and Rowe. D. C. f. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs.
Ken Fern Plants For a Future 2012/07/26 www.pfaf.org
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