Is Autumn Olive deer resistant?
Elaeagnus umbellata
Plant typeShrubHardinessZones 4–9LightFull sun
Mature height120–192 in
BloomSpring and SummerMaintenanceHigh, wants regular attention
About Autumn Olive
Silver-backed leaves, fragrant flowers and heavy red fruit. It is also one of the worst invasive shrubs in the eastern United States and is banned in several states. Do not plant it.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 5.5 to 7.5
- Drainage
- Average garden soil
- Water
- Low
- Spacing
- 94 to 142 in apart
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maintenance
- High
Similar to Autumn Olive
Other shrubs with the same deer rating.
- Antelope BitterbrushPurshia tridentataSeldom damaged
- Anthony Waterer SpireaSpiraea x bumaldaZones 3–8Seldom damaged
- Apache PlumeFallugia paradoxaZones 6–10Seldom damaged
- Armstrong JuniperJuniperus chinensis 'Armstrongii'Zones 4–9Seldom damaged
- Autumn SageSalvia greggiiZones 6–9Seldom damaged
- Banana YuccaYucca baccataSeldom damaged
Where Autumn Olive grows
Hardy across most of these 51 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- New York
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Virginia
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Wisconsin
- Ohio
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Georgia
- Texas
- Colorado
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Maine
- Rhode Island
- Delaware
- West Virginia
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
- Florida
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Iowa
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
Browse from here
Every list Autumn Olive belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Autumn Olive
- Is Autumn Olive deer resistant?
- Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) is rated Seldom Severely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.
- What hardiness zones does Autumn Olive grow in?
- Autumn Olive is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Autumn Olive grow in shade?
- No. Autumn Olive wants full sun and will grow thin and flop in shade.
- How big does Autumn Olive get?
- Mature height is roughly 120–192 in. Growth rate is fast.
- Is Autumn Olive invasive?
- Autumn Olive is listed as invasive or restricted in CT, MA, NH, VT, WV, NY, PA, NJ, MD, VA, OH, IN, IL, MI, WI. Deer leaving it alone is not a reason to plant it. Check your own state before buying.