WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST?
The fruit winner for 2025 in my neck of the woods goes to autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata). Autumn olive is on the naughty list or rather listed as “invasive” by the State of New York. Though I would argue that autumn olive is not without its benefits. The fruit can be highly tasty for humans and wildlife alike. My kids walk by my planted apples and pears to browse on these invasives. Bees and birds seem to love them as well. While Autumn olive can be aggressive in recently abandoned fields, it is shaded out over time as the forest grows up, making it merely early successional. The berries are apparently loaded with lycopene, which supposedly fights cancer, reducing aging, protects vision, and reduces inflammation. The roots are also known to fix nitrogen in the soil and improve soil condition. What they don’t tell you is that autumn olive was deliberately planted by government agencies and conservation groups alike to promote wildlife habitat and mitigate erosion decades ago. In many places, it is often the only edible shrub offering cover in an otherwise barren understory, and its berries last into November as well.
May the Forest Be with You,
Ryan Trapani
Director of Forest Services
Catskill Forest Association