Native Plant Database

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Forestiera pubescens var. pubescens (Desert olive)
Lytle, Melody

Forestiera pubescens var. pubescens Nutt.

Desert olive, Downy forestiera, Elbow-bush, Elbowbush, Forestiera, Stretch-berry, Stretchberry

Oleaceae (Olive Family)

Synonyms: Forestiera neomexicana

USDA Symbol: FOPUP

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Desert olive is a multi-branched, deciduous shrub, 4-9 ft. tall, with smooth, gray bark; arched branches; spiny branchlets, and light-green leaves. Flowers are inconspicuous but fragrant. Tiny, blue fruits occur in clusters on the female plants. This is a thicket-forming, deciduous shrub.

This drought-tolerant plant is well-suited for use as a spreading background plant or ground cover where grass wont grow. It is widely adaptable – tolerating dry or moist soil, sun or shade.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Size Class: 12-36 ft. , 6-12 ft.
Leaf Shape: Linear
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: 5-10 feet tall.
Leaf Color: Gray-Green
Sepals: Sepals in fours or sometimes fives and reduced
Stamens: Yellow stamens with no petals, appearing before leaves
Fruit Color: Black, Blue

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , NV , NM , OK , TX , UT
Native Distribution: CO, UT & CA, s. to w. Tex. & n. Mex.
Native Habitat: Thickets, Prairie, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannahs, Woodlands edge, Opening
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Poor, well-drained soils.
Texas comments: Elbowbush is a muti-branched shrub. It is an early nectar source for bees, butterflies and other insects. Its berries are eaten by several species of birds and small mammals. It is commonly used to produce a thicket.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Nice gray-green foliage.
Use Wildlife: The plant provides valuable browse and fruit for wildlife and the early blooms are an important source of food for bees. Nectar-insects, Nectar-bees, Nectar-butterflies, Browse, Fruit-birds, Fruit-mammals
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Larval Host: Hairstreaks
Nectar Source: yes

Propagation

Description: Germinates from untreated seed planted in late March to early April. Roots easily from softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings. Transplanting is easy because of shallow, easily dug roots.
Seed Collection: Harvest fruit when it has turned dark purple in late summer. Air dry seeds with or without pulp. Store in ventilated bags or containers in cool, dry place.
Seed Treatment: No pretreatment is necessary, although one month stratification may improve results.
Commercially Avail: yes
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PlantWise: Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants

Forestiera pubescens var. pubescens (Stretchberry) is a PlantWise native alternative for:

   Caragana arborescens (Siberian peashrub)
   Ligustrum amurense (Amur privet)
   Ligustrum japonicum (Japanese privet)
   Ligustrum lucidum (glossy privet)
   Ligustrum obtusifolium (border privet)
   Ligustrum ovalifolium (California privet)
   Ligustrum sinense (Chinese privet)
   Ligustrum vulgare (European privet)

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
* Available Online from Wildflower Center Store

Bibliography

* Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
* Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Trees of Central Texas (1984) Vines, Robert A.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Forestiera pubescens var. pubescens in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Forestiera pubescens var. pubescens in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Forestiera pubescens var. pubescens

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TMH

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