Plant Care Thorny Olive

Thorny Olive

Also known as

Silverthorn, Thorny olive and Spiny oleaster

Taxonomy

Elaeagnus pungens
Elaeagnus
Elaeagnaceae
Rosales

How to care for Thorny Olive

💦 Water

How often to water your Thorny Olive

Water needs for Thorny Olive
0.5 cups
every 9

Thorny Olive needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Thorny Olive

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Thorny Olive in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Thorny Olive: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Thorny Olive love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Thorny Olive does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Thorny Olive in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Thorny Olive

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Thorny Olive: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Thorny Olive after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Thorny Olive is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

Benefits of Growing Thorny Olive →

Common Thorny Olive Problems →


💦 Water Needs

Thorny Olive prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Thorny Olive Water Frequency →

Thorny Olive Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Thorny Olive requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Thorny Olive Light Requirements →

Thorny Olive Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Thorny Olive is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.


🪴 Soil

Thorny Olive does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

When and How to Successfully Repot Thorny Olive →

What Are Healthy Thorny Olive Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

Thorny Olive is a fast growing plant and may deplete the nutrients in its soil over time. Replenish them with a gentle organic fertilizer or compost every 1-2 months depending on your location and season. Fertilize more often during the growing season and in warmer and brighter climates.


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Thorny Olive grows along the ground and sends out shoots which will spread across the soil.

Thorny Olive Lifecycle →

Thorny Olive Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Thorny Olive →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Thorny Olive can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 7a-9b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Thorny Olive Temperature Tolerance →

Thorny Olive Hardiness Zones →

Is Thorny Olive a Weed? →


🌱 Propagation

The seeds of Thorny Olive can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.

How to Propagate Thorny Olive →


🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Thorny Olive, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for Thorny Olive

Thorny Olive

Thorny Olive


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

Trending in your area

Similar to Thorny Olive

Discover rare plants