Life Span
Perennial
Biennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
Southern Europe, Russia/Siberia, Mediterranean, Central Asia, Southeastern Asia, China
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, China
Types
Elaeagnus angustifolia
Purple Orchid Tree, White Orchid Tree, Bidi leaf tree
Number of Varieties
3020
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
fencerows, Forest edges, mine spoils, Old fields, open Woodlands, Pastures, Roadsides, sand dunes
Forests, Mountain Slopes, Valley
USDA Hardiness Zone
2-89-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
8-1
12-9
Sunset Zone
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19
H1, H2, 9, 10, 11, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
370.00 cm760.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm17.80 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Yellow green, Silver
Light Pink, Magenta, Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Silver
Green, Sandy Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Gray Green, Silver
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green, Gray Green, Silver
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Green, Gray Green, Silver
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Butterfly shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
Early Spring, Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Salt, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Vegetative Reproduction
Budding, Grafting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do not let dry out between waterings, Do Not over Water
Average Water Needs, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water Deeply
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
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
pruning needed for strong structure
Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Apply N-P-K
Pests and Diseases
Canker, fungus, Insects, Leaf spot, Red blotch, Verticillium Wilt
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Salt, Soil Compaction
Drought
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
Fine
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Birds
Allergy
Asthma
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Wildlife
Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Carminative, Laxative
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Buds, Flowers, Leaves, Root, Seeds, Stem
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Fibre, Gum, Used as a dye
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
ELAEAGNUS angustifolia
BAUHINIA purpurea
Common Name
Russian Olive
Butterfly Tree, Orchid Tree
In Hindi
रूस ओलिव
Butterfly tree
In German
russische Olive
Schmetterlings- Baum
In French
Olive russe
arbre de papillon
In Spanish
oliva ruso
árbol de la mariposa
In Greek
Ρωσική Ελιάς
δέντρο πεταλούδα
In Portuguese
Olive russo
árvore borboleta
In Polish
rosyjski Olive
drzewo Butterfly
In Latin
Russian Olive
Gloria ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Rhamnales
Fabales
Family
Elaeagnaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Elaeagnus
Bauhinia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Cercideae
Subfamily
-
Caesalpinioideae
Number of Species
40500
1
27800
👆🏻