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| New Mexico Forestiera, Desert Olive, New Mexico Privet, Palo Blanco Forestiera pubescens var. neomexicana Oleaceae New Mexico forestiera is a multi-trunked medium shrub that grows upright and matures into a rounded vase-shape. The sharply branching limbs have a pale gray bark that contrasts nicely with the small, bright green leaves. Clusters of tiny, yellow-green, fragrant blossoms appear in early spring, providing an important early source of nectar for bees. Female plants produce numerous small, fleshy blue-black fruit that ripen in late summer and provide a winter food source for many species of birds and small mammals. New Mexico forestiera grows on canyons and rocky slopes and desert flats in the Trans-Pecos west to Utah and California. It can tolerate drought and all types of soil, even saline, and will grow in sun or partial shade. In severe drought, it will lose its leaves. It can be pruned into a small tree after the main trunks are developed, and provides sculptural qualities as an accent or speciman plant.
Plant Habit or Use: medium shrub
Exposure: sun Flower Color: yellow - green Blooming Period: spring Fruit Characteristics: purplish - black berry Height: to 15 feet Width: to 10 feet Plant Character: deciduous Heat Tolerance: high Water Requirements: Soil Requirements: adaptable Additional Comments:
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