Botanical Name: Forestiera neomexicana
Common Name: Desert olive
Type of Plant: Dicot: shrub
Character
 
Habit of Growth:
Overall Shape a multistemmed deciduous shrub with several - many upright stems forming a full oval to rounded canopy; lateral branchlets may be spiny-tipped
Height 6 - 10' (15 ft.)
Spread equal or more
Growth Rate moderate - rapid
 
Environment:
Exposure full sun - thrives in hot exposed sites; tolerates shade
Soil prefers sandy soils but tolerates most
Hardiness hardy (zones 11-13, 18-23): best-suited to warm foothill/valley locations
 
Morphology:
Leaves pinnate, opposite (sometimes fascicled), obovate to oblong, 1 - 1 1/2"long with smotth to finely serrate margins; bright green
Flowers inconspicuous, appearing before the leaves, in small clusters (March-April)
Fruit a small blue-black drupe (1/4" long)
 
Propagation:
seed or hardwood cuttings
 
Usage:
a good quick-effects background or screening plant, valued for its great durability in difficult habitats; excellent for dry slopes; best for dry woodlands, desert or mediterranean theme gardens
 
Landscape Care:
Watering tolerates regular - thrives on little irrigation after established
Fertilizing none required after established
Pruning head back as needed to control overall size; can be trained as a hedge
Pests/Diseases relatively free
Special Conditions/Other grows very rapidly if watered regularly - control size by giving less water
 
Origin: canyons of coastal and desert foohills, Riverside County to Baja California
Family: Oleaceae
 
Notes:
 
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