Plant Details

Elaeagnus angustifolia

Oleaster

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Common names

44 names · 34 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Oleaster[1]
  • Russian olive[1]
  • Russian silverberry[1]
Other languages (33)
Dutch
  • Smalle olijfwilg[1]
French
  • Olivier de Bohême[1]
Arabic
  • خلاف ضيق الأوراق[1]
  • زيتون روسي[1]
  • زيزفون سوري[1]
Armenian
  • Փշատենի նեղատերև[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 東方沙棗[1]
Croatian
  • Ruska maslina[1]
  • Uskolisna zlolesina[1]
Czech
  • hlošina úzkolistá[1]
Danish
  • Smalbladet sølvblad[1]
Estonian
  • ahtalehine hõbepuu[1]
Finnish
  • idänhopeapensas[1]
German
  • Schmalblättrige Ölweide[1]
Greek
Hebrew
  • יצהרון מכסיף[1]
  • עץ-השמן המכסיף[1]
Hungarian
  • keskenylevelű ezüstfa[1]
Italian
  • Olivagno di Boemia[1]
Japanese
  • ホソグミ[1]
Kazakh
  • Үшкіржеміс жидесі[1]
Kurdish
  • سنجوو[1]
Latvian
  • šaurlapu eleagns[1]
Lithuanian
  • Siauralapis žilakrūmis[1]
Navajo
  • Tsin łibáhá[1]
Polish
  • Oliwnik wąskolistny[1]
Portuguese
  • árvore do paraíso[1]
Romanian
  • Sălcioară[1]
Russian
  • Лох узколистный[1]
Slovak
  • hlošina úzkolistá[1]
Slovenian
  • ozkolistna oljčica[1]
Spanish
  • árbol del paraíso[1]
Swedish
  • smalbladig silverbuske[1]
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Лох вузьколистий[1]
  • Маслинка вузьколиста[1]
West Frisian
  • Smelle oliifwylch[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Elaeagnus angustifolia — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Russian olive — results[0].names[0]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • oleaster — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Russian silverberry — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Olivier de Bohême — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Schmalblättrige Ölweide — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • hlošina úzkolistá — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Лох узколистный — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Маслинка вузьколиста — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • idänhopeapensas — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • árbol del paraíso — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • hlošina úzkolistá — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • خلاف ضيق الأوراق — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • زيزفون سوري — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • زيتون روسي — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Siauralapis žilakrūmis — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Smalle olijfwilg — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • ホソグミ — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • ahtalehine hõbepuu — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • 沙枣 — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • smalbladig silverbuske — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Փշատենի նեղատերև — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • 東方沙棗 — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • 东方沙枣 — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Smalbladet sølvblad — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Sălcioară — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • ozkolistna oljčica — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Tsin łibáhá — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Oliwnik wąskolistny — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • keskenylevelű ezüstfa — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Лох вузьколистий — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • İğde — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Olivagno di Boemia — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Ruska maslina — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Uskolisna zlolesina — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Үшкіржеміс жидесі — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • יצהרון מכסיף — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • עץ-השמן המכסיף — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Zizyfia — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Smelle oliifwylch — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • árvore do paraíso — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • šaurlapu eleagns — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • سنجوو — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Kuş İğdesi — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Çalı Gaga — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.

General information

Scientific name: Elaeagnus angustifolia
Accepted name (Kew): Elaeagnus angustifolia L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Elaeagnaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Elaeagnus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Oleaster
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 3.66–9.14 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Spread: 3.66–6.1 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [2]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasional Flooding

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [2]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [2]
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Gum, Seed
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Nitrogen fixer, Companion plant, Essential oil, Gum, Hedge, Wood, Carbon farming, Fragrant

Description

Fruit: the fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. This fruit is dry, mealy, and sweet in taste. It is suitable for making jelly, sorbets, or can be used as flavoring water in soups. Before the fruit can be eaten raw, it must be fully ripe. If the fruit is not yet completely ripe, it can cause astringency in the mouth when eaten. The oval fruit is approximately 10 mm long and contains a large seed. Seed: the seed can be eaten both raw and cooked and is often found together with the fruit. However, the seed can be fibrous.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/09
Harvest ends: 15/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1379863; name ID 2784975; Elaeagnus Tourn. ex L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1379870; name ID 2784980; Elaeagnus angustifolia L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Elaeagnus angustifolia — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageLightSoil moistureSoil textureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .