AUTUMN OLIVE– ELAEAGNUS UMBELLATA

Ben GrossmanSt. Charles County Parks

and Recreation

OUTLINE Background and History Life Cycle Identification Spread and Impacts Control

HISTORY Native to Asia, introduced in 1830 Planted as ornamental, erosion control,

degraded woodlands, wildlife habitat, windbreaks

Nitrogen fixer In 1940’s studied by Soil Conservation

Service ‘Cardinal’ released in 1963 for commercial

propagation Propagated by numerous state nurseries

including George O. White 1988 first wild samples collected in Warren

County

DESCRIPTION Deciduous shrub, multi-stemmed Up to 20’ in height Simple, alternate leaves, silvery underside Small, yellowish flowers April - June (year 2-

3) Red fruit in late summer – rich in lycopene

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

IDENTIFICATION Japanese Silverberry Cardinal Berry Bush Autumn Berry

David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org

IDENTIFICATION

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.orgJames H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

IDENTIFICATION

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

SPREAD & IMPACT Wildlife spread seeds, primarily birds Tend to colonize, probably due to fruit drop Dense growth, heavy amount of shade Tolerate poor soil Tolerates a variety of soil conditions except wet

CONTROL Chemical Mechanical Fire Etc. …

CUT-STUMP Cut down, treat stump Late summer Pathway (Dow AgroSciences) – picloram &

2,4-D Tordon RTU (Dow) – picloram Garlon 4 (Dow) – triclopyr

CUT STUMP

FOLIAR SPRAY Milestone (Dow) – aminopyralid Garlon (Dow) – triclopyr PastureGard (Dow) – triclopyr & fluroxypyr

PASTUREGARD

MILESTONE

HACK-N-SQUIRT Triclopyr Mid Summer Initially good results Moderately effective later Don’t recommend

BASAL BARK Anytime of year, but best winter and early

spring Garlon 4 (Dow) + diesel fuel or basal oil Pathfinder (Dow) – premixed Garlon w/oil

MECHANICAL Grip it and Rip it!

FIRE

BE PERSISTENT