Thorny olive is an invasive tough rapidly growing vine-like shrub native to Asia in the oleaster (Elaeagnaceae) family. It is resistant to drought, salt spray, pollution, and damage by deer. It has long shoots that trail out in many directions and can develop an unkempt appearance if not maintained. Showy white fragrant flowers are followed by showy red fruits that attract birds. Young branchlets are covered by brown scales and the stems have thorns that can "hook" onto other plants and structures to climb up. The genus name Elaeagnus comes from the Greek words elaia meaning "olive tree" and agnos meaning "chaste" or "pure" It tolerates a range of soil types including poor and infertile and is highly salt tolerant. It tolerates shade but will have thinner foliage. The plant can be pruned, but keep in mind that next year's blossoms will appear on old growth. Be wary as it is listed on the Non-Native Invasive Plants of Southern Forests and the Invasive Plant Atlas of the MidSouth . It can produce dense thickets, displacing native species and disrupting wildlife. Animals and birds help to disperse seeds. Please consider planting native plants. See the side panel for suggestions. Quick ID Hints : Vine-like shrub with brown scaley thorns Leaves covered with silvery scales below Petiole and major veins covered with brown scales Flowers silvery-white and fragrant Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems though fungal leaf spot and rust may occur and spider mites can attack stressed plants. Although technically a shrub, Elaeagnus pungens is capable of climbing and can attach to overhead trees if branches are not maintained. The trunk tends to sucker and this plant will also spread by seed. It is listed as invasive by the NC Invasive Plant Council.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
6-feet-12 feet; 12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Dense; Erect; Spreading
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Linear; Ovate
Leaf margin
Undulate
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
2-4 in. long leaves with ruffled margins are shiny green on top, silvery-white with tiny brown scales below. Alternate, simple, evergreen, linear-ovate to ovate, green above, covered in silvery scales below, major veins and petiole covered with brown scales.
Flower color
Gray/Silver; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower shape
Bell
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
1/2 inch fragrant (pungent), bell-shaped silvery-white flowers in axillary clusters bloom in fall. Silvery-white (due to scales), fragrant, axillary. Blooms can be taken indoors and used as a natural deodorizer.
Bloom time
Fall
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
1/2 inch drupes are one-seeded, reddish-brown and ripen in spring (late March-May). Initially densely scaley and green maturing to a silvery-red oval drupe.