Elaeagnus umbellata, commonly called autumn olive or autumnberry, is a large deciduous shrub or small sprawling tree of the Oleaster family that typically matures to 10-16' tall and to 20-30' wide.
Heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral
Late summer is the best time to prune many midsummer-flowering shrubs to keep them vigorous and flowering well. It is also the ideal time to prune several trees that are prone to bleeding if pruned at other times, and it’s not too late to complete the pruning jobs for July if you haven’t got round to them yet.
A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -40°c[200]. Somewhat similar to E. multiflora, but flowering a few weeks later[182]. The flowers are rich in nectar and very aromatic, they are much visited by bees.
Elaeagnus parvifolia has no toxic effects reported. Elaeagnus parvifolia is a deciduous Shrub growing to 4.5 m (14ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a medium rate. It is hardy to zone (UK) 3 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from May to June, and the seeds ripen from September to November. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.