Russian olive or Elaeagnus Angustifolia is viewed as an invasive species. Originally, Russian olives were planted in America to act as a windbreaker and soil stabilizers. But since then, they have spread wildly due to their deep, re-sprouting roots.
They are also a very resilient tree, capable of living in almost any condition, making them even more of an issue to permanently remove.
Some states have made the sale of Russian olive trees illegal, to prevent their spreading. So, are Russian olives worth the trouble? Do they make good firewood? Read to find out.
Russian olive is medium-quality firewood. It is a hardwood that can produce a lot of heat for a long time. Even though it is not firewood you should use to start your fire, it does produce a BTU of 23 million per cord once it gets going.
What Are The Varieties Of Russian Olive Wood?
Russian olive is the only variety of its kind, but it does go by many names. A few of which are Wild Olive or Silver Berry.
Many of its given names are based on the tree’s olive branch-like aesthetic.
Though they are slightly different species, a Russian olive tree will most likely be found growing near autumn olive trees, which are just as invasive.
What Are The Physical Characteristics Of Russian Olive Wood?
| Name | Russian Olive |
| Heat per cord (Million BTUs) | 23 |
| Weight dry (lbs per cord) | 3345 |
| Weight green (lbs per cord) | 3910 |
| Seasoning time | 12-18 months |
| Resin/ Sap Content | Very Low |
| Splitting Difficulty | Difficult |
| Smoke | Low |
| Smell | Neutral when dry |
| Coal Production | Low |
| Cerocote Build-up | Very Low |
Firewood Weight and BTU Chart here.
Is Russian Olive Easy To Split?
Much like poplar firewood varieties, the wood from the Russian olive in most cases is easy to split.
Although it does not grow to be large in diameter, with older varieties of the tree, splitting the trunk part of the tree can be pretty difficult. Some would argue that it’s even impossible without a hydraulic splitter.
Russian olive is usually a straight grain wood, but as it grows older, the trunk tends to grow extremely thick and stringy, making it almost impossible to spit with a maul.
What Does Russian Olive Smell Like?
In the wild, Russian olive trees have been known to smell very sweet and strong.
When Russian olive wood is first cut, it released an unpleasant, overwhelming odor. Though seasoning the wood for long enough will eventually make the smell dissipate.
Russian olive wood is not known to give off a smell when burning when it is fully dry. But when burnt while still holding more than 20% moisture in its wood, it will continue to release that unpleasant smell.
How Much Sap Content Does Russian Olive Have?
Due to being more shrub-like than other trees, Russian olive trees have very little sap.
In most cases, wood that has little sap build-up is easier to chop and quicker to dry. However, Russian olive wood still takes at least 12 months to dry and is difficult to split despite next to no sap production.
Moisture Levels of The Tree
With the ability to adapt to any soil type, the Russian olives tree can tolerate more than 75 gallons of water daily. Though that is not to say that their moisture levels are exceedingly high.
It is not wood that leaks water as soon as it is split, unlike sycamore wood. But its tendency to take on more water in certain settings means extended seasoning time.
Heat Output and Efficiency
Russian olive does produce a lot of heat. With a BTU of 23, Russian olive firewood can produce substantial heat over a long time.
The density of Russian olive means that it can burn slower without losing heat. But unlike other woods like birch, Russian olive catches fire very slowly.
It is recommended that you use a mixture of firewood when starting a fire instead of relying solely on Russian olive to get it going.
Fire Characteristics Of Russian Olive
By assessing the fire characteristics of Russian olive firewood, it will be easier to identify which scenarios and settings the firewood is best suited for. Or, if the wood is worth your effort.
Creosote build-up
Burning green wood is bad for any number of reasons, but especially so when the wood has a high sap content. Greenwood is wood that has just been cut and not seasoned. This means that the wood has had no time to dry out.
Unseasoned wood will still have some water content and will result in a slower burn, thus quicker creosote build-up. Likewise, wood that does not burn clean, including unseasoned wood, produces more creosote.
Amount Of Smoke
Unless seasoned, firewood tends to produce a lot of smoke. Russian olive will smoke a substantial amount if not left to dry out for long enough. Yet it will not burn, just smoke.
When dry, Russian olive will give off very little smoke, making it a good choice as an indoor fire source.
Does It Produce Coals?
Surprisingly, Russian olive firewood does not produce many coals. But it does burn off a substantial amount of ash.
Coals are to fire as fuel, to keep it going and provide lasting heat. Wood needs to typically produce healthy goals to allow the fire to stay hot and restart in the morning.
Russian olive will mostly produce a lot of ash but will burn for a long time regardless. Unlike tulip poplar firewood which releases few coals and has a short burning period.
Is It Okay To Burn Russian Olive In A Fireplace?
Thanks to the high BTU that Russian olive firewood produces and its long-lasting heat, Russian olive is an effective choice of wood to use in your fireplace.
You will need to use a combination of other woods to get your fire going, to begin with as Russian olive does not catch fire easily. Mix some ash firewood in with your Russian olive and you will get a good heat source burning quickly.
Be wary of using Russian olive wood in an open fireplace. Even when thoroughly seasoned, it does tend to spit embers sporadically.
Investing in a safety fence to protect you and your fireplace is a good idea anyway, especially if you plan to use Russian olive or firewood tamarack or fir regularly.
How Long To Season Russian Olive Wood?
The cores, thick bark that protects the Russian olive wood makes it difficult for the wood to dry out as quickly as pine or fir if not split. So, give at least 1 year (12 months) for your Russian olive wood to season before use.
Depending on the types of conditions that the Russian olive tree was growing in, it may be carrying a higher moisture content than you expect.
Invest in a moisture meter to know when your firewood has seasoned for long enough.
If the Russian olive wood’s content is still too high after a year, give it a few more months to season.
Is Russian Olive Firewood Expensive?
As a common invasive species, you have probably seen Russian olive often on a countryside walk.
That being said, it is a wood that is mostly sold to hobbyists, so it can be hard to find a firewood seller who supplies Russian olive as firewood.
Pros And Cond Of Using Russian Olive as Firewood
Many people despise Russian olive trees as they make it difficult for other trees to thrive. Despite this, there are some pros to using it as firewood, as well as some cons.
Pros:
- Produces a high BTU
- Lasts long
- Little sap
- No bad smell or smoke when seasoned well
Cons:
- Terrible to split
- Bad fire starter
- Poor coal production
How Does Russian Olive Compare To Other Firewood?
Overall, compared to other hardwoods, Russian olive can burn for just as long as douglas fir or birch while producing very creosote. Its BTU is just as high as birch which varieties produce a BTU of 23.8 million per cord and higher than douglas fir, which has a BTU of 20,7.
The issue is that Russian olive is hard to buy as firewood and difficult to process in large quantities as opposed to hackberry for example.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I Only Use Seasoned Firewood For Burning?
The better your firewood has been seasoned, the better it will burn.
More time for your wood to dry will decrease the quantity of smoke created when it is burned, allowing the fire to burn cleaner.
How Often Should I Remove Creosote From My fireplace?
The National Fire Protection Association suggests that you hire a chimney cleaner to remove creosote build-up at least once a year. However, if you are burning firewood throughout the year then you should do this more often.
How to store firewood?
Store firewood somewhere constantly dry and airy. Ensure that there are enough gaps between each log to allow them to air dry effectively.
Conclusion
Russian olive is good firewood to use when you already have the means to start a fire. It will burn longer than softwoods and will be just as effective as hardwoods. However, as a downside, it tends to spit embers from time to time and produce a fair amount of ash.
Recommended reading:
Hi!
I am the guy behind Theyardable.com. I grew up on a homestead and I am here to share the knowledge I have and things I learn while living in the countryside.
