Thorny Olive

Elaeagnus pungens

Found in forests and woodlands in suburban areas, spread by birds; this species is an increasingly aggressive invasive across much of our region. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

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Severe harm

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

Profile 82%

Height: may reach 25 feet tall
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Somewhat dry to moist

Elaeagnus pungens — whole photograph — James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org · CC BY 3.0 us · Original photograph

Do not plant. Listed invasive in Virginia.

At a glance

Life cycle: Woody perennial
Leaves: Evergreen
Bloom: October to November
Fruiting season: March to April

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Not yet recorded · Spread

Recorded in 25 Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

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

Forests and woodlands

Forest or woodland where the source does not say how moist or dry.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

12CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA

Genus host records with ranges including VA · 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
Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
Pseudothyatira cymatophoroidesTufted Thyatirid
Redectis vitreaWhite-Spotted Redactis
Scopula limboundataLarge Lace-Border

Show all 12

Sideridis roseaThe Rosewing
Xestia smithiiSmith's Dart

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 7a–9b
Soil pH: Acidic to alkaline
Flower color: Gray/silver or white
Fruit begins: March
Fruit ends: April

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

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “October to November” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Gray/silver or white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Fruit begins · “March” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
Fruit ends · “April” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
Hardiness · “Zones 7a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “may reach 25 feet (7.6 m) tall” · Fire Effects Information System: Elaeagnus pungens · Source botanical description; original units and scope retained
Leaves · “Evergreen” · 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
primary_flower_color · “white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Occasionally dry; Occasionally wet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil pH · “Acidic to alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Autumn Olive

Conservation status

Virginia rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
VA status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Native alternatives

Find natives for your garden