Amber

Autumn Olive

Size

Large - larger and fleshier than standard autumn olive

Shape

Round, light yellow/amber when ripe, may show orange-red blush

Flavor

Sweet, notably not astringent - a marked improvement over wild-type tartness/bitterness

Texture

Juicy, fleshy

Ripening window

September (blooms early May)

Best uses

Fresh eating, juice

Pollination

Self-fertile per most listings, though cross-pollination with a second variety is recommended for best yield

Tree size

8-12 ft, spread to 15 ft

Notes

Elaeagnus umbellata. Zones 3-9 depending on source, hardy to about -35F - comfortably covers zone 8a; low chill requirement (~150 hours) is a plus for mild Texas winters. Nitrogen-fixing shrub, drought tolerant, generally disease-resistant. Origin described as a yellow-fruited selection brought from Japan (distinct from the Hidden Springs Nursery/Hector Black lineage behind several of the other autumn olive selections here). Easily confused with Charlie's Golden (also yellow-fruited) - worth double-checking these weren't conflated in your source data. Autumn olive is NOT currently banned or regulated as invasive in Texas (confirmed directly against the Texas Invasives database and USDA PLANTS state noxious/invasive list - neither lists Texas), though it is regulated as invasive in AL, CT, DE, MI, MO, NY, NC, and WI, and produces viable bird-dispersed seed even as a named fruit selection (none of these are sterile). Worth deadheading/harvesting fully and watching for volunteer seedlings as good practice even though it's legal to grow here.