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If you’re looking for a plant that makes an ideal shelter and food source for songbirds and game birds, make sure you check out Autumn olive. This fast-growing shrub typically reaches a height of 12 to 18 feet and will produce fruit after three to five years. The leaves are bright green above and silver green beneath. Jim Pack, an NWTF Technical Committee representative and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources biologist, said that he has seen young turkeys “jumping up like frogs to get the berries.”
Planting tips
Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) can be planted in fall, winter or early spring. The shrub thrives in loamy and sandy soils that are acidic and low in fertility. Autumn olive will grow well in all regions of the United States, and grows best in full or half-day sun. (It is very tolerant to drought.)
Its funnel-shaped, yellowish-white flowers are fragrant and bloom from May to June. Berries, which ripen in September or October, change from silver to red by fall. Song and game birds eat the plant’s fruit, which persists through winter. Pack recommends planting autumn olive in patches of one to five acres. He says that this will help assure that there are enough berries to supply the demand of songbirds and wild turkeys.
Check local regulations
Autumn olive are strong colonizers and can spread rapidly. Some states do not allow them to be planted due to their aggressive nature. Check with your local agricultural extension agent to see if planting is restricted in your area.
How to order
Autumn olive seedlings are available through the NWTF’s Project HELP (Habitat Enhancement Land Program). To place an order or receive a free catalog, call 800-THE-NWTF.