Desert Olive
Forestiera shrevei
Family: Oleaceae
Deciduous shrub growing to about 10-12’ though often smaller. Flowers occur before the new leaves emerge in late winter into spring. Flowers followed by an olive-like drupe.
Grow in full to part sun, moderate to regular water, hardiness unknown but probably at least to 15°F. Fruits enjoyed by birds and other animals. Flowers are an important nectar source since they occur during a time when there isn’t a lot of plants blooming.
Flowers attract nectar-loving insects, fruits attract birds and other critters, and the plant is larval host for incense cedar sphinx (Sphinx libocedrus), hairstreaks (subfamily Theclinae) and other moths and butterflies. Because of the early blooms (usually starting in February) this tree is an important resource for bees. This is a great nesting and perching plant for birds.
The fruits are edible but bitter. Leaves used as a ceremonial emetic and the stems used to make ceremonial sticks.
Photo by Eric Hough, iNaturalist
Forestiera shrevei on SEINET
Forestiera is named for Charles Le Forestier, an 18th century French naturalist and physician, while shrevei is an honorific for Forrest Shreve (July 8, 1878 – July 19, 1950) who was an internationally known American botanist. His professional career was devoted to the study of the distribution of vegetation as determined by soil and climate conditions. There are 23 species of Forestiera native to Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, Ecuador and the southern half of the United States.
Found on rocky canyon walls and slopes from 2,500-4,500 ft. Ranges across the lower Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona and south into northern Mexico.
Staminate flowers (occur before the leave re-emerge in spring) photo by C. Mallory, iNaturalist
Fruits are drupes, photo by Dan Beckman, iNaturalist
The foliage is much more reduced in this species than the more familiar New Mexico olive, photo by Christopher Nowakowski, iNaturalist
Pistillate flowers (occur before the foliage re-emerges in spring) photo by Rich Hoyer, iNaturalist