My Deer Garden

Plant record · Shrub

Is Russian Olive deer resistant?

Elaeagnus angustifolia

Silver foliage of Russian olive
Photo by Katrin Schneider, CC BY-SA 4.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.
Damage step 1 of 4 · Rarely Damaged

Yes. Deer almost always leave this alone.

Type
Shrub
Hardiness
Zones 2–7
Light
Full sun
Height
144–360 in
Bloom
Spring
Maintenance
High

Damage steps follow a published university field scale. How plants are rated.

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.

Where Russian Olive grows

Hardy across 48 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering. Select any state, including one it will not grow in, for what is resistant there.

Alabama — hardy here. Zones 7 to 9.Alaska — hardy here. Zones 1 to 8.Arizona — hardy here. Zones 5 to 10.Arkansas — hardy here. Zones 6 to 8.California — hardy here. Zones 7 to 10.Colorado — hardy here. Zones 3 to 6.Connecticut — hardy here. Zones 5 to 7.Delaware — hardy here. Zones 7 to 7.District of Columbia — hardy here. Zones 7 to 8.Florida — not hardy here. Zones 8 to 11.Georgia — hardy here. Zones 7 to 9.Hawaii — not hardy here. Zones 9 to 12.Idaho — hardy here. Zones 3 to 7.Illinois — hardy here. Zones 5 to 7.Indiana — hardy here. Zones 5 to 6.Iowa — hardy here. Zones 4 to 6.Kansas — hardy here. Zones 5 to 7.Kentucky — hardy here. Zones 6 to 7.Louisiana — not hardy here. Zones 8 to 10.Maine — hardy here. Zones 3 to 6.Maryland — hardy here. Zones 6 to 8.Massachusetts — hardy here. Zones 5 to 7.Michigan — hardy here. Zones 4 to 6.Minnesota — hardy here. Zones 3 to 5.Mississippi — hardy here. Zones 7 to 9.Missouri — hardy here. Zones 5 to 7.Montana — hardy here. Zones 3 to 6.Nebraska — hardy here. Zones 4 to 6.Nevada — hardy here. Zones 4 to 9.New Hampshire — hardy here. Zones 3 to 6.New Jersey — hardy here. Zones 6 to 7.New Mexico — hardy here. Zones 4 to 9.New York — hardy here. Zones 4 to 7.North Carolina — hardy here. Zones 6 to 8.North Dakota — hardy here. Zones 3 to 4.Ohio — hardy here. Zones 5 to 6.Oklahoma — hardy here. Zones 6 to 8.Oregon — hardy here. Zones 6 to 9.Pennsylvania — hardy here. Zones 5 to 7.Rhode Island — hardy here. Zones 6 to 7.South Carolina — hardy here. Zones 7 to 9.South Dakota — hardy here. Zones 3 to 5.Tennessee — hardy here. Zones 6 to 8.Texas — hardy here. Zones 6 to 9.Utah — hardy here. Zones 4 to 9.Vermont — hardy here. Zones 3 to 5.Virginia — hardy here. Zones 6 to 8.Washington — hardy here. Zones 5 to 8.West Virginia — hardy here. Zones 5 to 7.Wisconsin — hardy here. Zones 3 to 5.Wyoming — hardy here. Zones 3 to 6.
Hardy on zone rangeNot hardy — still linked
Choose a state from the listeasier on a phone

Common questions about Russian Olive

Is Russian Olive deer resistant?
Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) is rated Rarely Damaged, step 1 of 4 on the damage scale this site uses. 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.

Browse from here

Every list Russian Olive belongs to.

All shrubs·Rarely damaged·Full sun plants

Hardy in these zones

Zone 3·Zone 4·Zone 5·Zone 6·Zone 7

Damage ratings follow the four-step field scale published by Rutgers University. Growing data is compiled from state extension sources and still being verified record by record. Last reviewed .