Autumn olive is a vigorous, deciduous shrub with pale yellow-white bell-shaped flowers to a half-inch long borne in late spring and early summer. Its silvery fruit turns red in fall and attracts birds. Wavy-margined leaves are silvery when they emerge and mature to bright green above.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

DeWalt Variable-Speed Cordless Reciprocating Saw with 6-Piece Saw Blade Set

You can fit a variety of blades to this saw to cut fallen branches or prune larger limbs from trees in a pinch. It’s fast, tough, easy to use, and extremely versatile.
- 18.31 x 6.13 x 4 inches
- 1-1/8-inch stroke length
- Variable speed trigger with 0-3000 spm
- DW4856 Metal/Woodcutting Reciprocating Saw Blade Set, 6-Piece

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Scotts Cordless Grass-Shear/Shrub-Trimmer Combo

With a built-in 7.2-volt lithium-ion battery, this little guy weighs less than 2 lb. and can zip through all your minor pruning tasks quickly and easily.
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Black and Decker 22-inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer

Quick and easy to put into operation and is less noisy and lighter in weight than gas-powered hedge trimmers.
- 38 x 7 x 7 inches
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DeWalt Variable-Speed Cordless Reciprocating Saw

You can fit a variety of blades to this saw to cut fallen branches or prune larger limbs from trees in a pinch. It’s fast, tough, easy to use, and extremely versatile.
- 18.31 x 6.13 x 4 inches
- 1-1/8-inch stroke length
- Variable speed trigger with 0-3000 spm

Buy at Amazon

Noteworthy CharacteristicsInvasive in the Mid-Atlantic region; spreads by birds eating the fruit and distributing the seeds.

CareGrow in fertile soil in full sun.

PropagationSemi-ripe cuttings in midsummer.

ProblemsOccurring frequently: cankers, dagger nematode, dieback, rust, fungal leaf spots, and root rot.

• Genus : Elaeagnus
• Plant Height : 10 to 15 feet
• Plant Width : 10 to 15 feet
• Zones : 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
• Moisture : Dry to Medium
• Bloom Time : Early Summer, Late Spring, Spring, Summer
• Growth Rate : Fast
• Light : Full Sun
• Maintenance : Moderate
• Characteristics : Self Seeds, Showy Fruit
• Plant Type : Shrubs
• Plant Seasonal Interest : Spring Interest
• Flower Color : White, Yellow