American Mountain Ash vs Russian Olive - TreeTime.ca

American Mountain Ash vs Russian Olive

Sorbus americana

Elaeagnus angustifolia

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

American Mountain Ash
Russian Olive

American Mountain ash is a beautiful, medium-sized ornamental tree that is ideal for residential lots. Mountain Ash blooms with tiny white flowers in the spring, followed by clusters of small red/orange berries in the summer.

American Mountain Ash's berries stay on the tree throughout the winter. This attracts birds and other small wildlife to your landscape as the berries are an important food source during the winter months.

Russian Olive is a medium-sized deciduous tree that has attractive silvery coloured foliage with small yellow flowers that emit a fragrant sweet smell.

It is drought and salt tolerant, and works well as a shelterbelt species. Russian Olive can also be used to combat erosion.

Note: although Russian Olive is planted as an attractive boulevard tree in many northern areas, in warmer areas it can invade watersheds and is considered invasive. Please do some research and plant the right tree in the right place.

American Mountain Ash Quick Facts

Russian Olive Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 2a
Height: 10 m (32 ft)
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: none


Foliage: silver scales
Fall colour: scarlet red
Flowers: white clusters, spring
Flowers: yellow
Fruit: silver-yellow, olive-like
Berries: bunches of orange-red
Seeds: seeds contained within the berries
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


In row spacing: 1.8 - 2.4 m (6 - 8 ft)
Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Native to: ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, PE
Other Names: dogberry
Other Names: silver berry oleaster, wild olive