Russian Olive vs Silver Maple - TreeTime.ca

Russian Olive vs Silver Maple

Acer saccharinum

Elaeagnus angustifolia

Silver Maple
Russian Olive

Silver Maple is a fast-growing, large deciduous tree that typically has a short trunk and sharply branched crown.

Silver Maple bears red flowers in early spring and beautiful five lobed, deeply notched green and silver leaves that turn yellow in the fall. This versatile and attractive shade tree requires a large yard.

Silver Maple is often used to make syrup instead of Sugar Maple in colder areas where Sugar Maple sap does not sweeten very well (like the Canadian prairies).

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.

Silver Maple Quick Facts

Russian Olive Quick Facts

Lowest Price: $3.49 - SAVE UP TO 61%
Lowest Price: $2.49 - SAVE UP TO 58%
Zone: 3a
Zone: 2a
Height: 20 m (66 ft)
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 12 m (40 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: long
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: none


Foliage: silvery undersides
Foliage: silver scales
Fall colour: pale yellow to brown
Flowers: yellow
Fruit: winged samara
Fruit: silver-yellow, olive-like
Seeds: located within the winged samaras
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, NB
Other Names: creek maple, silverleaf maple, soft maple, water maple, white maple
Other Names: silver berry oleaster, wild olive