55K views · 597 reactions | Tough, fast-growing, and fragrant? Yep, that’s Elaeagnus  This hardy shrub makes the perfect privacy screen with bonus silvery leaves and sweet blooms! #elaeagnus #smithsgardentown #texaslandscaping #toughshrubs #privacyplants #shrublife #gardentok | Smith's Gardentown | Facebook

Welcome back to Edible or Not! Today we're talking about Russian olive, Elaeagnus angustifolia. Russian olive has ✅ Narrow, simple, alternate leaves. ✅ Leave are green on top, fuzzy and silver on bottom. ✅ Sharp stout thorns. ✅ Fragrant small yellow flowers. ✅ Silvery olive-like drupes with a single seed. ✅ Silver bark when young, brown-gray when old. Russian olive is edible, however the drupes are fairly grainy, dry, and astringent. They can be nicely sweet if harvested at the correct time whic