ArborActive Tree Care Guide
How to Control Autumn Olive in CT, MA & RI
By ArborActive Team · Updated
Silver-backed leaves and speckled red fruit are clues to a shrub that often spreads from field edges into open ground.
Identify the plant
Elaeagnus umbellata. Look for alternate leaves with silvery undersides, pale spring flowers and red fruit flecked with pale dots. Check several features before distinguishing it from related shrubs.
University of Connecticut Extension identification and management guideChoose a control method
Start with the size of the patch, what you want to preserve and whether the site is near water.
Small patches
Pull or dig seedlings when roots can be removed without excessive disturbance. Work from scattered plants toward denser growth when the goal is to limit spread. Keep fruit out of debris that will be moved across the property.
Established infestations
Cutting mature shrubs improves access but often prompts vigorous resprouting. Depending on site conditions, options include repeated cutting, labeled cut-stump treatment, or selective treatment of regrowth by a qualified applicator.
Keep it from coming back
Look for shoots around cut bases and new seedlings at field edges and under perches. Keep or establish ground cover in the cleared area, especially on slopes where bare soil can erode.
Check local requirements
Before moving plant material, working near water or using an herbicide, check the rules for your property. Use only products labeled for the plant and site, and follow the label. Ask the local authority about disposal.
Connecticut invasive plant list
Check the current regional guidance before work.
Connecticut invasive plant listMassachusetts prohibited plant list
Check the current regional guidance before work.
Massachusetts prohibited plant listRhode Island invasive species resources
Check the current regional guidance before work.
Rhode Island invasive species resources
Common questions
Should I cut all the shrubs at once?
A phased approach can be useful where clearing would expose a slope or remove most of the existing cover. Prioritize isolated plants and areas where you can follow up.
Ask ArborActive about your property
Send your town, the approximate patch size and a photo of the suspected autumn olive. Mention nearby water and plants you want to keep.