Elaeagnus umbellata
Autumn olive
Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Elaeagnus umbellata.
General Information
Plant Properties
Growth conditions
Well-drained, Moist
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Full sun
Usage properties
Fruit, Seed
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.