Presented byJames H. Castle, Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District.

Russian Olive (Eleagnus angustifolia) is a native tree of southern Europe, central and western Asia. This class C Washington noxious weed is common in wet pastures, irrigation waterways, around lakes, wetlands, and riparian areas. Intentionally introduced as a horticultural plant, it was originally planted across most of North America to provide shade, hedges, wind- and snow breaks, soil stabilization, wildlife habitat, landscaping, and pollen for honeybees.