It Was the Berries: Fighting Autumn Olive's (Elaeagnus umbellata) Invasion in Appalachia

Randal Caudill
Oct 10
4 min read

Updated: Oct 23

The aftermath of an Autumn Olive removal event at Trexler Nature Preserve in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania in 2015. Photo downloaded from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AORemove.jpg

Sometimes if it is not the disease that kills you, then it is the cure, and that is exactly the case for autumn olive. This woody shrub, originally native to Asia, was first introduced to North America in the 1830s (Moore et al. 2013) to provide cover and wildlife forage on sites that had been disturbed. Beginning in the 1960s, and pushed aggressively in the 1980s, the government encouraged the planting of autumn olive on surface mining sites in Appalachia as part of reclamation efforts, as it was seen as both an effective plant to stabilize the soil of former mining sites and an efficient soft mast producer, providing berries for wildlife species to eat (Oliphant et al. 2017). Unfortunately, large-scale plantings of autumn olive on these mine lands, with extremely low plant diversity on top of low levels of nitrogen in the soil, allowed autumn olive to grow quickly. Its invasion dominates the landscape by suppressing native regrowth. In addition, its high mast production allowed it to spread rapidly, with seeds being spread by animals that feed on the shrub’s berries.

Diagnosing the Disease: How to Identify Autumn Olive

Autumn olive is fairly distinctive, and relatively easy to identify for those seeking to manage it. The plants typically grow to around 15 feet in height, but can reach as high as 23 feet. They have dark green leaves with wavy edges and undersides bearing pale, silvery flecks. The leaves are alternate along the stem. In the spring it bears clusters of light yellow flowers, which develop into berries of brown or green color. Once ripened, the berries become bright red, usually by late summer, and can persist on the plant through winter (Moore et al. 2013).

The leaves and berries of an Autumn Olive. In this image, you can also see that the leaves have an alternate pattern. Photo by Randal Caudill.

When looking for autumn olive in forest landscapes, the wavy margins and silvery undersides are the quickest identifiers. Looking for these features, and then further studying the plant upon sighting it, will help those looking to differentiate autumn olive from other species present in the woodlands. While it is damaging to the environment, autumn olive does serve some of the purposes it was initially imported for: it provides cover and soft mast to many wildlife species. In addition, people sometimes find uses for the plant as well, making jams and jellies from the berries, or harvesting honey made from it in areas where it is especially prevalent.

Prescribed Cures: Managing the Invasion

While autumn olive’s rapid spread can seem overwhelming, there are methods that can effectively manage it. The most effective methods of control involve mechanical and chemical treatments, such as cut stump methods. Cut stump treatments involve a few steps:

The thin trunk of an autumn olive overlaid on top of other trees and plants. Can you tell which is autumn olive and which is not from the leaves in this picture? Photo by Randal Caudill.

Cut the tree down as low on the trunk as possible.
Spray or paint the newly exposed stump thoroughly with herbicide, completely covering the whole interior of the stump.
Follow up as needed to ensure that stumps have not begun to resprout.

Following these steps, cut stumps treatments can be effective at suppressing new growth of the cut tree. Basal bark treatments- applying herbicide directly to the bark of the tree- can also be effective, and doesn’t require a chainsaw or other mechanical tools. Consideration should be given to the surrounding plant community with this treatment ,though, to minimize the risk of the herbicide damaging non-target plant

species. If herbicide cannot be applied

without significantly affecting these non-target species, then other treatment options may want to be considered. (Missouri DOC)

In places where autumn olive has completely taken over with no other plant species present (known as a monoculture), then larger scale methods of mechanical removal can be used. These include the use of heavy machinery, such as bulldozers or skid-steers equipped with mulching attachments, to clear large swaths of the plant at a time. Follow this up with foliar sprays to kill any resprouting stumps (UK Cooperative Extension). For more information on controlling autumn olive check out this document from the University of Kentucky, or contact your local agricultural extension agent. There are also several state agencies that offer assistance with the costs of controlling autumn olive. For help choosing the right one and to learn more about our Community Wealth from Healthy Rivers and Forests program visit our info page.