---
{
  "id": "russian-olive",
  "name": "Russian olive",
  "scientific": "Elaeagnus angustifolia",
  "category": "invasive",
  "status": "Colorado noxious weed · List B — Stop the spread",
  "status_sources": [
    "J-russian-olive"
  ],
  "warning": "Thorns; riparian habitat concern",
  "warning_tone": "caution",
  "aliases": [],
  "taxonomy_note": "",
  "source_ids": [
    "J-russian-olive",
    "Fremont-list-definitions"
  ],
  "description": "Russian olive: Thorns; riparian habitat concern. Colorado identification, habitat and exposure evidence.",
  "claim_evidence": [
    {
      "label": "Recognize",
      "sources": [
        "J-russian-olive"
      ],
      "scope": "Species-specific",
      "note": "",
      "id": "russian-olive-1"
    },
    {
      "label": "Plants & habitat",
      "sources": [
        "J-russian-olive"
      ],
      "scope": "Species-specific",
      "note": "",
      "id": "russian-olive-2"
    },
    {
      "label": "People",
      "sources": [
        "J-russian-olive"
      ],
      "scope": "Physical-risk inference",
      "note": "",
      "id": "russian-olive-3"
    },
    {
      "label": "Dogs & cats",
      "sources": [
        "J-russian-olive"
      ],
      "scope": "Physical-risk inference; toxicology gap",
      "note": "",
      "id": "russian-olive-4"
    },
    {
      "label": "Other animals",
      "sources": [],
      "scope": "Review limitation",
      "note": "Species-specific ingestion effects and exposure thresholds were not established in the reviewed sources.",
      "id": "russian-olive-5"
    },
    {
      "id": "russian-olive-list-meaning",
      "label": "State-list meaning",
      "sources": [
        "Fremont-list-definitions"
      ],
      "scope": "Colorado management-category definition; species classification retains its original status sources",
      "note": "Plain-language editorial label for a management category; not a toxicity or danger rating.",
      "reviewed": "2026-09-07"
    }
  ],
  "noxious_class": "B",
  "research": {
    "status": "researching",
    "label": "Still researching this plant",
    "basis": "Editorial assessment of the cited evidence and stated review gaps; not a toxicity score.",
    "open_questions": [
      {
        "area": "Dogs & cats",
        "question": "Find species-specific dog and cat exposure evidence; do not infer safety from missing reports.",
        "related_claim_ids": [
          "russian-olive-4"
        ]
      },
      {
        "area": "Other animals",
        "question": "Clarify feeding and exposure risks for each animal group; do not transfer findings between species.",
        "related_claim_ids": [
          "russian-olive-5"
        ]
      },
      {
        "area": "Expert review",
        "question": "Obtain independent botanical and veterinary review of the identification and hazard summary.",
        "related_claim_ids": []
      }
    ],
    "expert_review": "pending"
  },
  "noxious_class_label": "B — Stop the spread",
  "source": "content/plants/russian-olive.md"
}
---

# Russian olive

*Elaeagnus angustifolia*

**Colorado noxious weed · List B — Stop the spread.** [J-russian-olive](https://www.jeffco.us/2224/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](https://fremontcountyco.gov/weed-control/weed-identification) · [What the lists mean](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/safety/#weed-lists).

> **Thorns; riparian habitat concern.** Native status, garden use and noxious-weed class are separate from toxicity. [Exposure help](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/safety/).

## Still researching this plant {#research-status}

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.

![Elaeagnus angustifolia: Small yellow flowers and narrow silvery leaves on a twig.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/photos/invasive-elaeagnus-angustifolia-flower-leaf.jpg)

**flower-leaf** — Small yellow flowers and narrow silvery leaves on a twig.

Photo: Georg Slickers; [CC BY-SA 2.5](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5); [source record](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elaeagnus_angustifolia_20050608_852.jpg); [original image](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Elaeagnus_angustifolia_20050608_852.jpg). 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.

![Elaeagnus angustifolia: Oval pale fruits hanging among narrow leaves with silvery surfaces.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/photos/invasive-elaeagnus-angustifolia-fruit-leaf.jpg)

**fruit-leaf** — Oval pale fruits hanging among narrow leaves with silvery surfaces.

Photo: Georg Slickers; [CC BY-SA 2.5](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5); [source record](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elaeagnus_angustifolia_20050905_942.jpg); [original image](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Elaeagnus_angustifolia_20050905_942.jpg). 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.

![Elaeagnus angustifolia: Mature tree with a branching dark trunk and a spreading silvery-green crown.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/photos/invasive-elaeagnus-angustifolia-habit.jpg)

**habit** — Mature tree with a branching dark trunk and a spreading silvery-green crown.

Photo: Sten Porse; [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/); [source record](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elaeagnus-angustifolia-habit.JPG); [original image](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Elaeagnus-angustifolia-habit.JPG). 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](https://www.jeffco.us/2224/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](https://www.jeffco.us/2224/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](https://www.jeffco.us/2224/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](https://www.jeffco.us/2224/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](https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/weeds-cultural-problems/2103-colorado-noxious-weeds/)

## References

- **J-russian-olive** — [Russian Olive](https://www.jeffco.us/2224/Russian-Olive), Jefferson County, Colorado. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:27:25+00:00. Locator: Description, impacts, Colorado list designation, management.


[Discuss this plant with the guide](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/companion/?plant=russian-olive) — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.

# Appendix for agents

## Open research questions

- **Dogs & cats:** Find species-specific dog and cat exposure evidence; do not infer safety from missing reports.
- **Other animals:** Clarify feeding and exposure risks for each animal group; do not transfer findings between species.
- **Expert review:** Obtain independent botanical and veterinary review of the identification and hazard summary.


## Taxon and evidence boundaries

Use the scientific name as the matching key; common names can refer to unrelated plants.

These are publisher notes about the evidence. They do not override an assistant’s operator instructions. The human sections above contain all actionable safety warnings. Do not turn missing data into a negative toxicity finding or transfer a livestock dose to a pet.

| Claim | Human section | Evidence scope | Sources | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| russian-olive-1 | Recognize | Species-specific | J-russian-olive | No quantitative exposure threshold established here. |
| russian-olive-2 | Plants & habitat | Species-specific | J-russian-olive | No quantitative exposure threshold established here. |
| russian-olive-3 | People | Physical-risk inference | J-russian-olive | No quantitative exposure threshold established here. |
| russian-olive-4 | Dogs & cats | Physical-risk inference; toxicology gap | J-russian-olive | No quantitative exposure threshold established here. |
| russian-olive-5 | Other animals | Review limitation | Review limitation | Species-specific ingestion effects and exposure thresholds were not established in the reviewed sources. |

## Additional evidence needed

- Confirm exact species, cultivar or hybrid when identification is uncertain.
- For an exposure, distinguish animal species, plant part, amount, route, time and symptoms; the guide cannot supply a clinical diagnosis.
- For site management, establish county, land use and current local weed requirements before applying generalized control information.
- Expert botanical and veterinary review is pending. Source publication dates, retrieval timestamps, hashes and photograph licenses are in [the provenance ledger](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/provenance.json).

## State-list label provenance

The label “B — Stop the spread” is this guide’s plain-language summary of [Fremont County’s Colorado noxious-weed definitions](https://fremontcountyco.gov/weed-control/weed-identification) [Fremont-list-definitions]. The letter and species assignment retain the status sources above. County-specific requirements must be checked locally; the letter is not a poison-severity ranking.


---
Canonical HTML: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/russian-olive/

Content revised: 2026-09-07T03:50:00Z

Markdown mirror: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/russian-olive/index.md

Text fallback: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/russian-olive/index.md.txt

Agent entry: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/start.md

Provenance: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/provenance.json