Thorny olive (Elaeagnus pungens Thunb.)

Three invasive shrub species in the Elaeagnaceae family—autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), Russian olive (E. angustifolia), and thorny olive (E. pungens)—are commonly found throughout the southeastern United States. Native to parts of Asia and Europe, all three were introduced between the 1830s and early 1900s as ornamental plants before escaping cultivation and spreading across North America. Elaeagnus species can colonize a wide range of habitats and may grow as arching shrubs or, under certain conditions, even as vines. Once promoted for wildlife, they frequently form dense thickets that outcompete and displace native vegetation. Highly adaptable and resistant to damage, these species also spread easily through wildlife dispersal of their seeds.