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Autumn Olive is another invasive species brought to the US from Asia for erosion control. Introduced in the 1830s as an ornamental plant that could provide habitat and food to wildlife, autumn olive was widely planted by the Soil Conservation Service as erosion control near roads and on ridges. While the shrub does provide a tasty fruit for wildlife and yourself, the plant’s positive qualities are quickly outweighed by its rapid and uncontrollable spread across forest edges, roadsides, meadows and grasslands, where it displaces native plants.
Autumn olive can grow 20 feet tall and 30 feet wide. Its leaves are elliptically shaped and have a distinct shimmery look on the underside of the leaves. Its flowers are bell-shaped usually a cream or pale yellow that bloom in the early spring. The flowers bring on red berries dotted with silver scales, which has led the plant to also be known as silverberry. So, why is it a problem? Like most alien plants, autumn olive outcompetes and displaces native plants by shading them out or changing the chemistry of the soil around it. Autumn olive’s nitrogen-fixing root nodules allow the plant to grow in even the most unfavorable soils. Once it takes root, it is a prolific seed producer, creating 200,000 seeds from a single plant each year. Birds eat the fruit and will spread the seeds far and wide. This highly invasive shrub is hard to control and get rid of, however, with patience and consistency you can prevent the spread. You can do this by hand pulling the seedlings or using herbicides on the mature shrub after cutting it down. Autumn olive, also known as silverberry or autumnberry, is a plant that belongs to the scientific family Elaeagnaceae. This deciduous shrub is native to Asia and was introduced to North America in the 19th century. Since then, it has become naturalized in many parts of the United States. Habitat and Description Autumn olive thrives in a variety of habitats, including open fields, forest edges, and disturbed areas. It is known for its ability to adapt to different soil types and climates. This shrub can grow up to 20 feet in height and has silvery-green leaves with a distinctive silver underside. In the autumn, it bears small, red berries that are rich in nutrients. Parts Used Various parts of the autumn olive plant are used for different purposes. The berries, which are tart and slightly sweet, can be harvested and used in culinary creations such as jams, jellies, and sauces. The leaves and bark of the plant have also been utilized in traditional medicine. Planetary Influence There is very little folklore available for autumn olive, however, tencrowns on Tumblr did their own magical profile and suggests there could be a few astrological associations related to this shrub. Mars - tough and thorny Mercury - prolific reporiductive ability and high level of nutrition in such small fruits Air - Autumn olive won’t thrive if it can’t see the sky. My personal suggestions would be the shrub itself is masculine in nature due to it’s prolific nature and could be used in fertility magic. In terms of planetary influence, the autumn olive is associated with the element of Earth. Its resilient nature and ability to grow in diverse conditions symbolize stability and grounding. Medicinal Qualities Autum olives are highly nutritious and are an excellent source of the antioxidant lycopene as well as vitamins A, C, and E. When compared with tomatoes, another fruit high in lycopene, autumn olive comes out on top with 54 mg compared to the tomato’s 26 mg. Ashley Adamant over at Practical Self Reliance shares because of their high lycopene content (like tomatoes) forager friends have crafted their own autumn olive ketchup recipes which can be found on her website. I’m all about using food as medicine so this will be a recipe I will need to try. You can eat the berries fresh, but the taste can be intensely astringent and cause stomach upset for some people. Traditionally, the berries make delicious jam, jelly, sauce, fruit leather, and wine. According to Northeast Superfoods, there is a fringe movement to poularize autumn olive consumption in the US. The plant is naturally resilient, requires no pesticides or fertilizers, and can thrive in a variety of growing conditions. Autumn olives can help replenish depleted soil and could be grown organically with little labor while potentially improving soil conditions. Foraging for autumn olives takes a good amount of seeds out of “circulation” and there is a lot of potential benefit for the environment if we would start eating more autumn olives. Autumn Olive Jam Ingredients: - 4 cups autumn olive berries - 1 cup sugar - 1 tablespoon lemon juice Instructions: 1. Rinse the berries and remove any stems or leaves. 2. In a saucepan, combine the berries, sugar, and lemon juice. 3. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the berries soften and release their juices. 4. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, until the mixture thickens. 5. Remove from heat and let the jam cool. 6. Transfer the jam to sterilized jars and seal tightly. 7. Store in the refrigerator for up to several weeks or use a proper canning method for longer shelf life. Remember, when foraging or using wild plants, always ensure proper identification and sustainable harvesting practices. Autumn olive is a fascinating plant that offers a range of uses and connections to various aspects of human culture. Whether enjoyed for its culinary delights, explored for its medicinal qualities, or revered for its spiritual and magical associations, this versatile shrub continues to captivate and inspire.
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AuthorCaitlin is a full-time special education teacher with a penchant for the wyrd. When she isn't hanging out with the coolest kids, she's out in her garden tending to her herbs or frolicking with her 2 goats, 40 chickens, 6 ducks, 2 turkeys, 2 dogs, and 6 cats. She understands it's a hoarding situation at this point, but life is too short to worry about boring things like that. Archives
May 2024
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