Russian olive

Elaeagnus angustifolia

Silver-leaved Eurasian small tree historically planted as windbreak across the North American Great Plains. Cold and drought hardy, but invasive in much of its introduced range.

Hardiness ratings

Russian olive hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 2–8 −45.6 °C to −6.7 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H7 down to −20 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 2–8 −40 °C to −1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 1–4 −15 °C to 5 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • INVASIVE across much of western North America — listed as a noxious weed in many states and prohibited for new planting in some. Check before planting and consider native alternatives.
  • Fixes nitrogen via Frankia bacteria (actinorhizal symbiosis) rather than the Rhizobium of legumes — a non-legume nitrogen fixer
  • Where already established, useful as windbreak in extreme dryland conditions

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Russian olive against your zones

Reference

Russian olive on Wikipedia