Russian Olive

Garden Great trees  


Russian Olive

The Russian Olive tree, Elaeagnus Angustifolia, is an excellent windbreak and wildlife tree. It is extremely tolerant of environmental factors. The best windbreak tree for high wind areas. Pictured is the Russian Olive in a tree form. Russian Olive trees can be made into a hedge by planting 10’ apart in the row. The Russian Olive has low water requirements and displays a high tolerance for salt and alkali. Its stems, buds, and leaves have a dense covering of silvery to rusty scales. Leaves are egg or lance-shaped. At three years of age, plants begin to flower and fruit. Highly aromatic, creamy yellow flowers appear in June and July and are later replaced by clusters of abundant silvery fruits. Wildlife loves the fruit. Prized for its silvery gray foliage. Prefers a sunny location and is tolerant of most soil types. ... more

 

Box Elder Maple The Box Elder Maple tree, Acer negundo, is also commonly known as ashleaf maple, Manitoba maple, box-elder maple, and western box-elder. This deciduous maple tree is a small-to-medium-sized tree, reaching heights of 50 to 75 feet, with a trunk diameter up to 4 feet. The trunk is relatively short and tapering, and the crown is spreading and bushy. It has a thick trunk and upright branching habit, but is more often seen as a smaller tree with cane-like, bright green branches. Box Elder trees are fast growing and tolerate poor conditions. These shade trees have brittle wood. Boxelder bugs eat seeds on female trees. Although it grows best on moist soils, box-elder is drought and cold resistant. It can also tolerate flooding for extended periods (up to a month). The seeds are a source of food for birds and mammals, and are important because they stay on the tree through winter, when other food resources are scarce.

Russian Olive