Russian olive
Elaeagnus angustifolia
A hardy nitrogen-fixing windbreak with edible berries that shrugs off drought, salt and cold. A superb support tree — but invasive along waterways, so plant with care.
Russian olive in a syntropic line
Russian olive belongs in the Medium layer as a Secondary nitrogen-fixing productive species. The productive heart — most of your yield lives here. Rough in-row spacing starts around 5 m in a syntropic row. Good line partners include Pigeon pea, Black locust. As a Secondary species it carries mid-term yield and structure while climax trees slowly claim the canopy.
Tolerances and growing conditions
- Strata
- Medium
- Lifecycle
- Secondary
- Soil preference
- Sandy, Loam
- Soil pH range
- 6 – 8.5
- Min. temperature
- -40°C
- Min. rainfall
- 300 mm/year
- Wind tolerance
- High
- Frost tolerance
- High
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Irrigation needed
- Low
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Waterlogging tolerance
- Low
- Origin
- West Asia
- Native to Portugal
- No
How to manage it
Hardy nitrogen-fixing windbreak with edible fruit; tolerates drought, salt and poor soils and resprouts well after cutting. Remove root suckers and seedlings to keep it contained.
How to prune
Remove root suckers, dead wood and crossing branches to keep a multi-stem, open habit for windbreak function. Lift lower limbs if underplanting nearby. Cuts hard well, so don't hesitate on overgrown or leggy stems.
How to propagate
Sow seed or take hardwood cuttings in winter; root cuttings also work.
Guidance, not a guarantee — success varies by species and skill.
What to watch out for
Actinorhizal N-fixer but classed as noxious/invasive in much of North America, especially along waterways - check local regulations before planting.
Frequently asked questions about Russian olive
Is russian olive frost-hardy?
Yes for winter cold in many climates — generally hardy to around -40°C when dormant, with high frost tolerance in the catalog. Flowering crops can still lose a season to late frost, so site them carefully.
What soil does russian olive need?
It does best on sandy, loam ground, at pH about 6–8.5.
How much water does russian olive need?
Plan for a rainfall floor around 300 mm/year, plus low irrigation once established.
Can russian olive handle wet or waterlogged soil?
Poorly — russian olive has low waterlogging tolerance, so keep it off winter-wet clay and standing water.
What should I watch out for with russian olive?
Actinorhizal N-fixer but classed as noxious/invasive in much of North America, especially along waterways - check local regulations before planting.
Design your line to see how your land fits Russian olive.
Start designing your line →