Autumn Olive

Elaeagnus umbellata

Found in forests and woodlands; roadsides, fields and disturbed ground. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

-85

Severe harm

Not native to Florida. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 76%

Height: 10–16 feet
Spread: 20–30 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Usually moist

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Do not plant. Listed invasive in Florida.

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Golden St. John's-wort
Hypericum frondosum
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow.
Published recommendation: Tennessee Invasive Plant Council (TN-IPC)
Shrubby St. John's-wort
Hypericum prolificum
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow.
Published recommendation: Tennessee Invasive Plant Council (TN-IPC)
Northern Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Sun: Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow or green.
Published recommendation: Tennessee Invasive Plant Council (TN-IPC)

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At a glance

Life cycle: Woody perennial
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: April to May
Fruiting season: August to September

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Recorded in 5 Florida counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 2

Named place / source context. Shown: Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Georgia, a neighboring state.Trail on Little Kennesaw Mountain., Unidentified in HFC record, undated. Public domain. Source record.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

8CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including FL

Genus host records with ranges including FL · Elaeagnus

Acharia stimuleaSaddleback Caterpillar Moth
Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
Automeris ioIo Moth
Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
Redectis vitreaWhite-Spotted Redactis
Scopula limboundataLarge Lace-Border

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

1BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Elaeagnus

Alectoris chukarChukar

Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Elaeagnaceae
Hardiness: Zones 4a–9b
Soil pH: Acidic to alkaline
Flower color: White
Growth rate: Rapid
Growth habit: Several stems
Foliage color: White-gray
Fruit begins: August
Fruit ends: September

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “April to May” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “White” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Foliage color · “White-gray” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “August” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Fruit ends · “September” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Growth habit · “Several stems” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Rapid” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 4a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “10–16 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS, Minnesota Wildflowers differ)
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Moist” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil pH · “Acidic to alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “20–30 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Spring Silverberry

Conservation status

Florida rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
FL status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source