The recent spread of autumn-olive, Elaeagnus umbellata, into southern Ontario and its current status

Abstract

Autumn-olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.) was extensively planted during the 1960s and 1970s to provide food and cover for wildlife, and has several other uses including reclamation, erosion control and interplanting in agroforestry. It has been discovered growing outside of cultivation throughout much of southern Ontario over the past 10 years. It has increased rapidly in parts of southern Ontario and the United States and is currently a competitive pest in some areas, hindering colonization of native species and competing with native vegetation. Autumn-olive is primarily a problem in open habitats on dry sandy soils. It has the potential to degrade native plant communities of natural sandy openings which contain significant native biodiversity.