Desert Olive

Sun or whole-day dappled shade; in the partial shade, it tends to lean. Semi-evergreen. Desert olive is a signature fragrance of South Texas, in the early spring days when it is one of the first shrubs to bloom. It has the same 90-degree twig angles as other elbow bushes, but can be distinguished by its dense form and skeletal olive leaves. Forestiera provides an easygoing shrublike shape and nesting opportunities, cover, and fruit for wildlife. Use it on sunny dry sites with well-drained soil; pair with torchwood for a nearly evergreen hedgerow. Not widely available commercially; find it at specialty native plant growers, especially in the Rio Grande Valley.