Is Russian Olive deer resistant?
Elaeagnus angustifolia
Plant typeShrubHardinessZones 2–7LightFull sun
Mature height144–360 in
BloomSpringMaintenanceHigh, wants regular attention
About Russian Olive
Silver foliage, fixes its own nitrogen, and thrives in salt and drought. It is also seriously invasive across the western and central states, and prohibited in several. Check before planting.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 6 to 8.5
- Drainage
- Sharp, gritty. Will rot in wet soil
- Water
- Low
- Spacing
- 94 to 142 in apart
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maintenance
- High
Similar to Russian Olive
Other shrubs with the same deer rating.
- Arrowwood ViburnumViburnum dentatumZones 2–8Rarely damaged
- BarberryBerberis sp.Zones 4–8, genus rangeRarely damaged
- BayberryMyrica pensylvanicaZones 3–7Rarely damaged
- Blue Mist ShrubCaryopteris clandonensisZones 6–9Rarely damaged
- BoxwoodBuxus sempervirensZones 5–8Rarely damaged
- BroomCytisus sp.Zones 5–8, genus rangeRarely damaged
Where Russian Olive grows
Hardy across most of these 48 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
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Iowa
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbia
Browse from here
Every list Russian Olive belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Russian Olive
- Is Russian Olive deer resistant?
- Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) is rated Rarely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Deer almost always leave this alone.
- What hardiness zones does Russian Olive grow in?
- Russian Olive is hardy in USDA zones 2 to 7. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Russian Olive grow in shade?
- No. Russian Olive wants full sun and will grow thin and flop in shade.
- How big does Russian Olive get?
- Mature height is roughly 144–360 in. Growth rate is fast.
- Is Russian Olive invasive?
- Russian Olive is listed as invasive or restricted in CO, NM, MT, WY, UT, SD, ND, NE, KS, NV. Deer leaving it alone is not a reason to plant it. Check your own state before buying.