Plant Details

Elaeagnus umbellata

Autumn olive

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Common names

26 names · 19 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Autumn olive[2]
  • Japanese silverberry[2]
  • Spreading Oleaster[1][2]
Other languages (18)
Dutch
  • Schermolijfwilg[2]
French
  • Olivier de Bohême
  • oléastre à ombelles[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 伞花胡颓子[2]
  • 牛奶子[2]
  • 胡颓子[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 小葉胡頹子[2]
Czech
  • hlošina okoličnatá[2]
Danish
  • Skærmsølvblad[2]
Finnish
  • sarjahopeapensas[2]
German
Italian
  • olivagno umbellato[2]
Japanese
  • アキグミ(広義)[2]
Korean
  • 보리수나무[2]
  • 왕보리수나무[2]
Polish
  • Oliwnik baldaszkowy[2]
Portuguese
  • groselha-dos-açores[2]
Russian
  • Лох зонтичный[2]
Slovak
  • hlošina okolíkatá[2]
Spanish
  • Fresa de Otoño[2]
Swedish
  • koreansk silverbuske[2]
Ukrainian
  • Маслинка парасолькова[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

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] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Doldige Ölweide (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 167704; taxon 38XFD.
  • Spreading Oleaster (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 167705; taxon 38XFD.
[2] Elaeagnus umbellata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • autumn olive — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • Japanese silverberry — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • olivagno umbellato — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • spreading oleaster — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • groselha-dos-açores — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • oléastre à ombelles — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • hlošina okoličnatá — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • 小葉胡頹子 — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • Лох зонтичный — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • 牛奶子 — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • 보리수나무 — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • 왕보리수나무 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • Schermolijfwilg — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • koreansk silverbuske — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • アキグミ(広義) — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • Skærmsølvblad — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • Oliwnik baldaszkowy — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • 胡颓子 — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • 伞花胡颓子 — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • hlošina okolíkatá — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • sarjahopeapensas — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • Schirm- Ölweide — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • Doldige Ölweide — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • Fresa de Otoño — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.
  • Маслинка парасолькова — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 64697; Elaeagnus umbellata.

General information

Scientific name: Elaeagnus umbellata
Accepted name (Kew): Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Elaeagnaceae

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

Sources [1]
Also known as: Autumn olive
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 3.05–4.88 m

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

Sources [3]
Spread: 6.1–9.14 m

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

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Arching, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

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

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Seed
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
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

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

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 1380611; name ID 2785255; Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Elaeagnus umbellata

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 153535, ID 38XFD: Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Elaeagnus umbellata — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 16 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .