Community photos
No community photos yet. Be the first to add one.
Uncommon Collector Fruit (Che, Cornelian Cherry, Sea Buckthorn, etc.)
Autumn Olive
✓ VerifiedAlso known as: Elaeagnus umbellata
Asia (naturalized across the US)
Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) produces small, silvery-red, speckled berries with a juicy, slightly astringent flavor in late summer. It is a nitrogen-fixing shrub, not native to North America, and it is genuinely, seriously invasive in many parts of the US, spreading vigorously and outcompeting native vegetation in disturbed areas — a real, documented ecological concern that growers should weigh seriously before planting it, not merely a minor caveat. I was not able to find documented breeder or cultivar-specific origin history beyond this general species background. If you have a source for more specific variety history, it can be corrected with real information.
Submitted by @system · 10 days ago
Counts toward the overall Top Tier Fruit list — every category's votes are compared the same way.
Growing & Care
Hardiness zone
USDA Zones 3-8
Pollination
Self-fertile.
Care info
Extremely vigorous — check local invasive species regulations before planting, as it spreads aggressively in some regions.
Recommendations
Confirm it is not restricted in your area before planting, given its known invasive tendencies in parts of the US.
Flavor Profile
Tart-sweet with a slightly astringent finish, milder once fully ripe
Quick facts
Skin color
Red with silvery speckles
Size
Small
Hardiness zone
USDA Zones 3-8