Pollinator plant

Oleaster

Elaeagnus angustifolia

Linked agroforestry plant data
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Common names

45 names · 34 languages
EnglishYour language
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Russian-olive[3]
Other languages (33)
Dutch
French
Arabic
  • خلاف ضيق الأوراق[2]
  • زيتون روسي[2]
  • زيزفون سوري[2]
Armenian
  • Փշատենի նեղատերև[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 東方沙棗[2]
Croatian
  • Ruska maslina[2]
  • Uskolisna zlolesina[2]
Czech
  • hlošina úzkolistá[2]
Danish
  • Smalbladet sølvblad[2]
Estonian
  • ahtalehine hõbepuu[2]
Finnish
  • idänhopeapensas[2]
German
  • Schmalblättrige Ölweide[1][2]
Greek
Hebrew
  • יצהרון מכסיף[2]
  • עץ-השמן המכסיף[2]
Hungarian
  • keskenylevelű ezüstfa[2]
Italian
Japanese
  • ホソグミ[2]
Kazakh
  • Үшкіржеміс жидесі[2]
Kurdish
  • سنجوو[2]
Latvian
  • šaurlapu eleagns[2]
Lithuanian
  • Siauralapis žilakrūmis[2]
Navajo
  • Tsin łibáhá[2]
Polish
  • Oliwnik wąskolistny[2]
Portuguese
Romanian
  • Sălcioară[2]
Russian
  • Лох узколистный[2]
Slovak
  • hlošina úzkolistá[2]
Slovenian
  • ozkolistna oljčica[2]
Spanish
Swedish
  • smalbladig silverbuske[2]
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Лох вузьколистий[2]
  • Маслинка вузьколиста[2]
West Frisian
  • Smelle oliifwylch[2]
Sources & name notes (3)

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. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • oleaster — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Smalle olijfwilg — results[0].names[16]; 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.
  • Russian olive — results[0].names[0]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Russian silverberry — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • árbol del paraíso — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Olivagno di Boemia — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • árvore do paraíso — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
[2] Elaeagnus angustifolia — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • oleaster — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Smalle olijfwilg — results[0].names[16]; 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.
  • Russian olive — results[0].names[0]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Russian silverberry — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • árbol del paraíso — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Olivagno di Boemia — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 64694; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • árvore do paraíso — results[0].names[40]; 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
[3] Elaeagnus angustifolia — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Russian Olive — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
  • Russian-olive — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Elaeagnus angustifolia.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Botanical family
Elaeagnaceae

Genus-level classification for Elaeagnus; this does not confirm the complete catalogue name.

Sources [1]
Taxonomy
NC State Extension publishes a profile under Elaeagnus angustifolia.

Profile-name match; no accepted-name status is asserted.

Sources [2]
Mature height
3.66–9.14 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
3.66–6.1 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasional Flooding

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
E. Europe to Temp. Asia.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value High
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Shrub
Size
Small
Dimensions
7.00 m high × 7.00 m wide
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifecycle
Perennial
Foliage
Deciduous

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
2-7
Moisture
Well-drained, Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Fruit, Gum, Seed
Functions
Nitrogen fixer, Companion planting, Essential oil, Gum, Hedge, Timber, Carbon farming, Fragrant
Edibility
4 out of 5
Medicinal value
3 out of 5

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.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Elaeagnus — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1891898; ID 62QQB; rank genus; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Elaeagnus angustifolia — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: TaxonomyMature heightMature spreadGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureFlowering season
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Main botanical heading (h1)
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Elaeagnus angustifolia — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1379870; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1354317, 1354318, 1354319, 1354320, 1354325, 1354326, 1354328, 1354329, 1354330, 1354331, 1354332, 1354333, 1354334, 1354335, 1354337, 1354338, 1354340, 1354341, 1354342, 1354343, 1354344, 1354345, 1354346, 1354347, 1354348, 1354349, 1354350, 1354351, 1354352, 1354353

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.