Russian olive trees — sometimes known as silver berry or oleaster — are small, ornamental plants with silvery leaves and black bark, and small yellow flowers and silver fruit that look like miniature olives. They’re pretty, but they’re a problem.

The species is invasive in B.C., having been brought to the province from its native range in Russia and other parts of Asia, according to the Invasive Species Council of B.C. And that’s why some communities, like Kamloops, are looking to get rid of them.

Russian olive is a hardy plant that can survive in dry conditions and cold temperatures, making it perfect for a climate like that of Kamloops, a semi-arid, desert-like city in B.C.’s Interior.

They take in more water than most plants in areas where the soil is dry, which means they can o

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