thorny olive	USDA PLANTS Symbol: ELPU2 U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Shrub or Subshrub
Elaeagnus pungens Thunb.

Jump to: Resources | Images | Distribution Maps | Sources

Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Rhamnales: Elaeagnaceae
Synonym(s): thorny elaeagnus, silverthorn, spotted elaeagnus
Native Range: Japan (REHD): China, Japan (BAIL);
Thorny olive is a dense evergreen shrub that invades natural areas throughout the southeastern United States. The shrub is often multi-stemmed and short. Sharp shoots give it a thorny appearance. Shrubs can grow 3.3-26.3 ft. (1-8 m) tall. Shrubs are usually very dense with long shoots extending from the top. The leaves are alternate, oval to elliptical, with irregular wavy margins and silvery surfaces, 2-4 in. (5.1-10.2 cm) in length and thick. The axillary clusters of small, sweet-smelling, white to brown flowers develop in the fall. Plants rarely fruit, but fruit are small, red and dotted with small brown scales. Thorny olive closely resembles two other exotic olives, autumn olive and Russian olive. A high shade tolerance allows thorny olive to invade both in open areas and under forest canopies. The seeds are dispersed by animals, giving this plant the potential for rapid spread. Thorny olive is native to eastern Asia and was first introduced into the United States in 1830 as an ornamental.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Invasive Species Management Plans for Florida - University of Florida - Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests - USDA Forest Service

Selected Images from Invasive.org

View All Images at Invasive.org

Cultivar; Elaeagnus pungens 'Glen St. Mary Compact' John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Fruit(s); Mature fruit with leaves in March James H. Miller & Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Foliage; April James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Foliage; October James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Fruit(s); Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Fruit(s); Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Foliage; Joseph LaForest, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Foliage; Joseph LaForest, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Bark; Karan A. Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Fruit(s); Coastal plains, April 2011 Karan A. Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); January. Photo from Forest Plants of the Southeast and Their Wildlife Uses by J.H. Miller and K.V. Miller, published by The University of Georgia Press in cooperation with the Southern Weed Science Society. James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); October James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

EDDMapS Distribution:
This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org