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Elaeagnus umbellata
Thanks to luke.garver for identifying this pest. AKA Japanese silverberry, umbellate oleaste. Native to eastern Asia from the Himalayas east to Japan and invasive to parts of North America due to its ability to fix nitrogen in its roots, making it suitable for nutrient-poor soils. Alternating leaves that are silvery in early spring, and turning greener through summer. Fragrant white flowers. Fruit is juicy and edible, and works well as a dried fruit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaeagnus_u...).
Grows well in most soils, including clay, and is drought tolerant. "Elaeagnus umbellata is native to China, Korea and Japan and was introduced to the United States for cultivation in 1830 (Rehder 1940). It occurs from Maine to New Jersey and Pennsylvania (Fernald 1950) and west to Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri (Holtz 1981). " http://wiki.bugwood.org/Elaeagnus_umbell...
Repeated cutting and burning may prevent spread.
Spotted on May 6, 2011
Submitted on May 7, 2011
