Invasive Species Spotlight: How to Identify and Control Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
Know Your Land – October 2025
Readers’ Note: This is the first in an informational series intended to educate deedholders on potential invasives species in their field or woodlot. We provide descriptive information, interesting facts, and strategies for managing these species.
Like many of the invasive plants species we observe in New England, Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellate) was a problem of our own making. Originally, imported as an ornamental shrub in the mid-1800s, this plant grew in popularity beginning in the 1950’s as an erosion control strategy. Due to its ability to grow in incredibly poor soils, it was an ideal candidate for planting at mine reclamation and highway construction projects. And because the fruit produced by autumn olive is edible to wildlife, it was often planted in fields as windbreaks and hedgerows. Since 2006, autumn olive has been designated an invasive species in Massachusetts and its sale and/or propagation is prohibited.
Description
A fast growing shrub, autumn olive typically reaches heights of 12+ feet and can be up to 30 feet wide. One of its most easily distinguishable characteristics is its elliptical-shaped, smooth, alternate leaves that are dark green on top and silvery-white on the underside (hence the plant’s nickname, silverberry). It blooms in early spring with typically white or pale yellow clusters of flowers comprised of four petals. In late summer it produces bunches of small red berries. Autumn olive is most commonly found along roadsides, fields, and pastures.
Strategies for Control
Autumn olive possesses several strategies that give it an advantage over our native plants:
- It can fix nitrogen in the soil allowing it to successfully establish under a range of soil conditions;
- It is allelopathic, allowing it to influence soil chemistry and associated microbial communities which can exclude other plant species from growing;
- A single shrub can produce over 100,000 seeds; and
- One the primary methods of seed dispersal is birds, which consume the fruit and ensures autumn olive spreads far and wide.
Despite these challenges, controlling autumn olive is possible using a range of techniques. Simply cutting the main stem of the shrub off will not kill the plant (even if done repeatedly), however it can be a good first step in reducing the plant to a more manageable size. From there you can either use heavy machinery or a tool like a weed wrench to remove the root system. Alternatively, you can use a combination of cutting/mowing down the olive then immediately ‘painting’ the freshly cut stem with a systemic herbicide (typically referred to as a ‘cut stump treatment’). The herbicide is transported below ground and will kill the plant.
Where severe, dense infestations occur, it may be necessary to consider a foliar herbicide application. Cut stump treatments may be conducted year round, whereas foliar applications can only be done during those months of spring and summer when the plant has its full complement of leaves. Regardless of the method you choose, you will likely have to complete follow-up management for several years afterwards. For more information on controlling autumn olive visit here. If you choose to use herbicides, be sure to read and follow instructions provided on the label and follow all applicable regulations from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.
Eat your invasives!
If there is any bright side to the thorny issue of autumn olive, it is their edible fruit. Not only desired by birds, these fruits are also safe for people. Wild food foragers harvest the fruit and use it in everything from jellies to wine to breads (here are some fresh ideas!). In fact, right now (early October) is the perfect time to pick berries. Plus, you have the added satisfaction of knowing every berry picked is one less plant in the wild!
Need more help?
If you have a forest management plan or stewardship plan on your property and have invasive plant issues, talk with your forester about it. They can direct you to resources and contractors that can assist you. If you don’t have a plan, consider reaching out to your local USDA NRCS office. Their staff can walk your land with you and provide free technical assistance.