Russian olive
Discuss this plant with the guide — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.
Elaeagnus angustifolia
Colorado noxious weed · List B — Stop the spread. J-russian-olive
Established in some areas. Requirements vary by location: eradication, containment or suppression to stop further spread. This is a management category, separate from danger ratings. Category source · What the lists mean.
Thorns; riparian habitat concern. Native status, garden use and noxious-weed class are separate from toxicity. Exposure help.
Still researching this plant
This is a sourced working profile. Evidence is incomplete for Dogs & cats, Other animals. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.
Three views of this plant
Photos are source-identified examples, not a complete identification key. Check leaves, stems, flowers and fruit together. Locations are not assumed to be in Colorado.
Georg Slickers · CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source page scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, color change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Georg Slickers · CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source page scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, color change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Sten Porse · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source page scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, color change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Recognize
A woody shrub or tree with narrow, silvery leaves, fragrant yellow flowers and olive-shaped fruits. Branches may bear long thorns. J-russian-olive
Plants & habitat
An introduced plant of riparian areas and old windbreaks. Stumps, roots and discarded twigs can regrow; plan removal and follow-up together. J-russian-olive
People
Thorns can puncture skin and eyes. Protective handling is a physical-risk precaution; this profile does not assess fruit consumption. J-russian-olive
Evidence scope: Physical-risk inference.
Dogs & cats
Thorny branches can injure animals. Pet-specific chemical toxicity is not established in this review. J-russian-olive
Evidence scope: Physical-risk inference; toxicology gap.
Other animals
Species-specific ingestion effects and exposure thresholds were not established in the reviewed sources. This is an evidence gap, not proof of safety.
Before taking action
Confirm the scientific name before removing a plant, changing animal access, or choosing treatment. An evidence gap means this review has not resolved the question. It does not mean safe. For listed weeds, consult your county weed program about the requirements for your location; follow the current label for any pesticide. S27
References
- J-russian-olive — Russian Olive, Jefferson County, Colorado. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:27:25+00:00. Locator: Description, impacts, Colorado list designation, management.