James Burghardt
Family
Elaeagnaceae
Botanical Name
ELAEAGNUS pungens 'Maculata'
Plant Common Name
Thorny Olive
General Description
This large-leaved form of thorny olive has beautiful leaves marked with yellow central blotches. Reportedly, plants have a tendency to revert and maintain unvariegated leaves of yellow-green. Though still fast-growing, fully variegated forms tend to grow a bit slower than wild-type.
Thorny olive is a large evergreen shrub to small tree native to China and Japan where it exists along open slopes and thickets near the Oceanside or waterways. It has also become naturalized in the southeastern United States where it is considered a problematic invasive shrub. It is fast-growing, tough and grows well in difficult areas but has a coarse, informal look that is visually unappealing.
The oblong to elliptical leaves of thorny olive are dark green on the top and silver-gray on the bottom with rusty scales or dots. The leaf edges are often wavy. Its long branches are thorny and colored with silver and rusty scales. Small, creamy to silvery white, bell-shaped flowers that are strongly fragrant appear in small clusters at the leaf joints. These occur in autumn and are followed by silvery red, oval berry-like drupes.
This truly thorny shrub is tolerant of most well-drained soils and full sun is preferred but partial shade tolerated. If not pruned, shrubs will look ungainly and irregular, so pruning is suggested for plants grown in areas where appearance matters. Thorny olive is fast-growing, salt and drought tolerant as well as pest-resistant—the reasons why some choose to plant it. It can be used for erosion control shrub and thrives in natural areas, sometimes to a fault. Elaeagnus pungens has escaped cultivation in the American South where growers should avoid planting it.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
9 - 7
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USDA Hardiness Zone
7 - 9
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Sunset Zone
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Shrub
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
8'-12' / 2.4m - 3.7m (12)
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Width
8'-12' / 2.4m - 3.7m
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Bloom Time
Fall, Late Fall, Early Winter
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Native To
China, Japan
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Pollution, Salt
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Growth Rate
Fast
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Oval/Rounded
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
White, Silver
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Fruit Color
Red, Silver
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Foliage Color (Spring)
White, Yellow, Dark Green, Yellow Green
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Foliage Color (Spring) Modifier
Variegated, Spotted/Mottled
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Foliage Color (Summer)
White, Yellow, Dark Green, Yellow Green
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Foliage Color (Summer) Modifier
Variegated, Spotted/Mottled
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Foliage Color (Fall)
White, Yellow, Dark Green, Yellow Green
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Foliage Color (Fall) Modifier
Variegated, Spotted/Mottled
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Foliage Color (Winter)
White, Dark Green, Sienna
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Foliage Color (Winter) Modifier
SpottedMottled
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Bark Color
Sienna, Silver
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Bark Color Modifier
Spotted/Mottled
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
Yes
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
Yes
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
Yes
