Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Safe

Can Alpacas Eat Autumn Olive?

Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) — a shrub. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
✓

Yes — autumn olive is safe for alpacas.

It is acceptable forage or browse in normal amounts.

Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata). Photo: KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Safe
Scientific name
Elaeagnus umbellata
Family
Elaeagnaceae
Plant type
Shrub

Feeding notes

Invasive shrub that camelids and goats browse readily; berries are safe.

How to offer it

  1. Introduce any new forage or browse gradually over a week or two.
  2. Make sure it is fresh — avoid moldy, wilted piles or plants sprayed with herbicide.
  3. Keep a balanced diet: grass or hay first, with a camelid mineral available.

About the plant

Elaeagnus umbellata is a species of flowering plant known as Japanese silverberry, umbellata oleaster, autumn olive, autumn elaeagnus, spreading oleaster, autumnberry, or autumn berry. The species is indigenous to eastern Asia and ranges from the Himalayas eastwards to Japan. It is a hardy, aggressive invasive species able to readily colonize barren land, becoming invasive in the central and northeastern United States and parts of Europe.From Wikipedia — “Elaeagnus umbellata”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 64,026 recorded observations of Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb. worldwide, including 44,032 in the United States. It belongs to the Elaeagnaceae family. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Can alpacas eat autumn olive?
Yes. Invasive shrub that camelids and goats browse readily; berries are safe.
How much autumn olive can an alpaca eat?
As part of a varied diet based on grass or grass hay, it can be eaten freely. Introduce new browse gradually.

Keeping pastures safe

  • Walk every paddock and fence line each season and remove toxic plants, including roots.
  • Never throw garden, hedge or lawn clippings over the fence.
  • Check pastures after storms for fallen branches (cherry, red maple).
  • Buy hay from known sources and inspect it for weeds.
  • Keep pastures well managed — hungry alpacas eat plants they would normally avoid.

Browse the full toxic plant checker, the printable list of poisonous plants and the list of safe plants.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.

Data: plant status compiled from veterinary toxicology references (see sources); taxonomy and occurrences from GBIF; identifiers from Wikidata Q367242.