Goumi vs Autumn Olive – An Age-Old Question for the Permaculture Obsessed
Both Goumi and Autumn Olive are members of the Elaeagnaceae family and make incredibly useful additions to any organic, low-input garden—especially if you're building a permaculture system.
Native to East Asia, these underappreciated fruiting shrubs have huge potential in Western climates, valued both as ornamentals and for their food-producing capabilities. We're currently trialling them as productive nitrogen fixers within our polyculture fruit and nut orchards, and although it’s early days, we’ve already seen promising results.
Although often confused for one another, there are key differences between Goumi (Elaeagnus multiflora) and Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) that could influence your planting decisions.
In this article, we’ll break down those differences to help you choose the right plant for your garden or food forest.
Growth Habits
Goumi (Elaeagnus multiflora)
Goumi is a hardy deciduous shrub that typically grows to around 6–8 feet tall and wide. It’s fast-growing and highly adaptable, thriving in poor soils, polluted air, coastal winds, and a wide range of light levels. While we haven’t trialled it in full shade, its reputation suggests it would likely hold its own.
Like its relatives, Goumi is a nitrogen fixer. It captures atmospheric nitrogen and enriches the soil through a symbiotic relationship with microbes in its root system. This makes it an excellent companion plant for hungrier trees like apples, walnuts or plums.
One key advantage of Goumi is that it is not considered invasive. That means it can be planted without the ecological concerns that come with certain non-native species.
Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
Autumn Olive shares many qualities with Goumi but tends to be much more vigorous. It typically grows to around 12–18 feet in height and has a wider spread. It thrives in similarly poor soils, tolerates coastal conditions, and grows well even in deep shade.
It’s also a nitrogen fixer, and due to its larger size, may have a broader soil-enriching impact—though there’s little research to confirm this definitively.
Unlike Goumi, Autumn Olive is classified as invasive in many parts of the world. Its seeds are spread by birds, and seedlings often outcompete local species, particularly in disturbed or low-fertility soils.
If you’re considering planting Autumn Olive, be sure to harvest the berries consistently and monitor for unwanted spread. Always check your local guidelines before introducing potentially invasive plants.
Comparison
Goumi (Elaeagnus multiflora)
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Small to medium hardwood shrub: 6–8 ft tall
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Thrives in poor soil, air pollution, and coastal areas
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Tolerates full sun to partial shade
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Nitrogen fixer – enhances surrounding soil
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Not classed as invasive
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Good choice for low-maintenance polycultures
Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
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Larger and faster growing: 12–18 ft tall
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Grows in poor soil, deep shade, coastal areas
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Also a nitrogen fixer
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Classed as invasive in many areas
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Seeds spread easily via birds
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Monitor for unwanted seedlings
Yield and Fruit
Goumi
Goumi produces clusters of scarlet red berries with a silvery speckled skin. They ripen around mid-to-late July in the UK and resemble small, elongated cherries. Birds will happily strip a bush clean, so some protection may be necessary if you want to enjoy the harvest.
Goumi berries are tart when under-ripe but develop a wonderful sweet-sour balance when picked at peak ripeness. The seeds are large for their size but are edible, high in protein, and contribute to the overall nutritional value. The fruit is also rich in vitamins A, C, and E, as well as lycopene.
These berries are ideal for jams, pies, and homemade fruit leather.
Autumn Olive
Autumn Olive is an even heavier producer, but the individual berries are smaller. The fruit forms in tight clusters along the branches and tends to ripen gradually around mid-autumn.
While the taste is pleasant—especially at full ripeness—it doesn’t quite match the richness or sweetness of Goumi. That said, Autumn Olive berries still have strong culinary potential, and some cultivated varieties have been bred for improved flavour and size.
Nutritionally, they are comparable to Goumi, and with proper management, they can provide huge quantities of usable fruit each year.
Comparison
Goumi
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Produces scarlet, silver-speckled berries
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Ripens mid–late July (UK climate)
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Tart until fully ripe, then sweet and rich
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Larger fruit than Autumn Olive
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High in vitamins A, C, E, lycopene, and protein (in seeds)
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Excellent for jams, fruit leather, fresh eating
Autumn Olive
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Smaller berries, but very high yield
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Ripens gradually from mid-Autumn
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Tart to start, sweetens over time
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Grows in tight clusters along branches
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Slightly less refined flavour than Goumi
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Still excellent for jams and preserves
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Similar nutrient profile
Propagation
Both shrubs are relatively easy to propagate, and in our experience, their behaviour is near identical in this regard.
Layering
Layering has proven the most reliable method. Simply pin a low-growing branch to the ground and cover it with mulch or soil. Over time, it will root at the contact points and can be separated to form a new plant.
Cuttings
Cuttings, especially semi-hardwood ones, have worked with moderate success. It’s less consistent than layering, but given how fast both plants grow, you’ll never be short of material to trial.
Seed
Growing from seed is possible but slow. The seeds have a tough coat and a long dormancy period. Soak them for 24 hours and lightly scarify the surface to help germination. If sowing out of season, refrigerate for about 90 days to simulate winter conditions. Monitor for early germination and pot up any sprouting seeds as needed.
Comparison
Methods That Work for Both:
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Layering: Most reliable – bend a branch, bury a section, and wait for roots
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Cuttings: Semi-hardwood cuttings root with moderate success
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Seeds: Tough outer casing, needs scarification and stratification
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Soak seeds for 24 hours
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Chill in fridge ~90 days for dormancy break
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Monitor for early germination
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Final Thoughts: Which Should You Grow?
If you’re only growing one:
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Goumi is ideal for smaller spaces and delivers great flavour with no risk of invasiveness.
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Autumn Olive offers huge yields and resilience but needs careful management.
In our view, both have their place. They fill different niches in a food forest or permaculture design and can contribute significantly to soil fertility and seasonal fruit variety.
Planted thoughtfully and harvested regularly, they’re two of the most useful shrubs you can grow.