Desert Olive
Forestiera shrevei

GROWING CONDITIONS
AN EXPLANAITION OF TERMS USED

SUN Full to part sun, avoid reflective heat
WATER moderate to low, slower growing with less water
SOIL tolerant, but drainage and amendment are recommended
HARDINESS hardy to 15°F
BASIN middle zone
CONTAINER not recommended
NUTRITION moderate
MAINTENANCE very little

ECOLOGY
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.

ETHNOBOTANY
The fruits are edible but bitter. Leaves used as a ceremonial emetic and the stems used to make ceremonial sticks.

NATURAL DISTRIBUTION
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.

TAXONOMY AND NAME
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.
This species was formerly known as Forestiera phillyreoides.