https://www.reddit.com/r/Permaculture/comments/1if9vfe/russian_oliveelaeaganus_in_the_pnw/
created by CrotchetyHamster on 01/02/2025 at 16:22 UTC
1 upvotes, 6 top-level comments (showing 6)
Curious if anyone has experience with Russian olive in the PNW, and whether it's invasive in this climate. I've heard it's problematic in other North American climates, but it sounds like warm, wet summers might be necessary for it to be an aggressive spreader.
It would work really well in a deer exclusion hedge I'm working on, offering several benefits (thorns, evergreen, strong grower, nitrogen fixer), but I'd rather avoid it if it's problematic in this climate.
Comment by weaselfish2 at 02/02/2025 at 06:21 UTC
9 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Super invasive throughout the inland PNW. Do not plant.
Russian Olive Trees: Control and Management in the PNW
Comment by cronus42 at 01/02/2025 at 16:56 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I have two russian olive bushes in PNW (Portland area) and they've never spread. Goats love the trimmings, birds love the berries.
Comment by Health_Care_PTA at 01/02/2025 at 16:25 UTC
3 upvotes, 2 direct replies
just plant eleagnus multifloria its a sterile variety of eleagnus umbellata the 'invasive' variety in the midwest. i grow both in zone 8 SC, excellent N+ fixing chop and drop mulch plant, great companion to nut trees as a sacrificial plant as your nuts mature
Comment by Nellasofdoriath at 02/02/2025 at 01:44 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Would buffaloberry E shepherdia be less problematic being a north American native?
Comment by herroorreh at 02/02/2025 at 15:44 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I can not speak to the PNW in general, but if you live anywhere close to public land and especially riparian areas I would recommend finding something else. I live in southern Utah and we have spent YEARS and millions of dollars trying to get the russian olive out of our riparian ecosystems. On my property I plant a lot of what some would consider invasive in other parts of the country - but in my very dry, extreme climate most "invasive" trees and plants are the only things that will grow without much babying. Just gotta be careful to keep them out of sensitive ecosystems just in case.
Comment by PB505 at 02/02/2025 at 10:01 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Not in your climate so I can't answer on that aspect. But I have Russian olive on my land, and the seeds are spread by birds, and the seeds easily sprout. The deer have no problem eating Russian olive leaves, stems, and thorns. I cut volunteer seedlings and saplings down to the ground ever year or two to prevent them from spreading further on my land. The cut stems resprout readily.
The mature Russian olive tree creates a lot of dead wood throughout the tree and grows suckers at its base. While the thorns are no deterrent to the deer, they are a deterrent to me. I once stepped on a section of pruning that I had missed picking up when tending the tree. The thorn went straight through my shoe and sock. I had a significant, painful puncture wound on the underside of my foot.
I personally do not believe that Russian olive is a nitrogen fixer. I have one that is at least 40 years old with a 16" diameter trunk. The plants that grow under and around this tree look no different than plants elsewhere.
I have spent decades trying to keep deer out of areas through thick windbreaks or fences. The only thing that ever worked is 8' fences for large areas, and 6' fences for small exclosures where the deer are afraid they will get caught inside.
Fences reach 8' tall on the day they are installed. Hedgerow plants take a lot longer to reach that height.