Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tree
Origin
Southern Africa
Southern Europe, Russia/Siberia, Mediterranean, Central Asia, Southeastern Asia, China
Types
Perennial
Elaeagnus angustifolia
Number of Varieties
5030
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
fencerows, Forest edges, mine spoils, Old fields, open Woodlands, Pastures, Roadsides, sand dunes
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-102-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-8
8-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
61.30 cm370.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
White, Yellow green, Silver
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
Yellow, Silver
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Light Green, Gray Green, Silver
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Light Green, Gray Green, Silver
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Light Green, Gray Green, Silver
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Pollution, Salt, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Seedlings, Vegetative Reproduction
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Do not let dry out between waterings, Do Not over Water
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
pruning needed for strong structure
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
Canker, fungus, Insects, Leaf spot, Red blotch, Verticillium Wilt
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Pollution, Salt, Soil Compaction
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
Skin irritation
Asthma
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
-
Part of Plant Used
Root
Whole plant
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Feature Plant, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
ELAEAGNUS angustifolia
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Russian Olive
In Hindi
African Iris
रूस ओलिव
In German
Afrikanische Iris
russische Olive
In French
African Iris
Olive russe
In Spanish
Iris africano
oliva ruso
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
Ρωσική Ελιάς
In Portuguese
Iris africano
Olive russo
In Polish
Afryki Iris
rosyjski Olive
In Latin
African Iris
Russian Olive
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Rhamnales
Family
Iridaceae
Elaeagnaceae
Genus
Dietes
Elaeagnus
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Irideae
-
Subfamily
Iridoideae
-
Number of Species
30040
1
27800
👆🏻