Family: Elaeagnaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in temperate climates (may only pose a threat to higher elevations in tropical island ecosystems)
  
• Widely naturalized in North America
  
• An agricultural and environmental weed
  
• Other Elaeagnus species have become invasive
  
• Often armed with coarse thorns
  
• Becomes less palatable with increasing age
  
• Pollen may be allergenic to susceptible individuals
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Forms dense thickets
  
• N-fixing (may alter soil chemistry)
  
• Produces viable seeds
  
• Seeds dispersed by birds, mammals and water
  
• Seeds may remain viable in the soil for 3 years
  
• Able to coppice and resprout after cutting or damage

Low Risk Traits:

• Palatable foliage when young
  
• Ornamental and medicinal purposes
  
• Self-incompatible
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively (although able to sucker if damaged)
  
• Herbicides may provide effective control