Plant Details

Elaeagnus umbellata

Autumn olive

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Elaeagnus umbellata.

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General Information

Scientific name: Elaeagnus umbellata
Also known as: Autumn olive

Plant Properties

Layer: Shrub
Size: Small
Height: 4.50 m
Width: 4.00 m
Growth Rate: Moderate
Leaf: Deciduous

Growth conditions

USDA Hardiness: 3-7
Soil Moisture:
Well-drained, Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

Usage properties

Edible part:
Fruit, Seed
Edibility:
(4)
Medicinal:
(2)
Features:
Nitrogen fixer, Companion plant, Hedge, Bee forage, Carbon farming, Fragrant

Description

The fruits are juicy and slightly sour in taste and can be eaten raw or processed by cooking, such as in jam. To eat them, the fruits must be fully ripe; otherwise, they have a sharp taste. In the wild, mature shrubs yield about 650g of fruit after two or three harvests. The fruits are shelf-stable for about 15 days at room temperature and have a diameter of approximately 8 mm with a large seed. That seed, raw or cooked, can be eaten along with the fruit, but it is quite fibrous.

Harvest Data

Start Harvest: 01/09
End of Harvest: 31/10