shrub layer
russian olive
elaeagnus angustifolia
silver-leaved and thorny, it fixes nitrogen at the root and shrugs off drought and salt — a pioneer windbreak whose fragrant flowers draw bees and whose berries feed birds.
functions
nitrogen fixerwindbreakwildlife habitat
field guide
light
full sun
moisture
dry
soil
poor, sandy, even saline
this profile is still growing. know russian olive? help add its uses, size, and how to grow it — contribute what you know →
season
open the calendar →j
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grower's notes
memberspropagation, guild role, and deeper ecology for russian olive — the members' view.
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relationships — grows well with
sea buckthornhippophae rhamnoides→autumn oliveelaeagnus umbellata→black locustrobinia pseudoacacia→comfrey (bocking 14)symphytum × uplandicum→
see russian olive on the relationship map →the takeaway
start a guild around russian olive
plant these together and the relationships on this page start working for you — feeders, protectors, and cover, layer by layer.
- shrub
- russian olive — the anchor
- canopy
- black locust
- herbaceous
- comfrey (bocking 14)