Texas olive

Sun

Full sun for the best flowering; tolerates light partial shade.

Water

Water regularly while establishing, then deeply during prolonged dry spells. Let the soil dry between waterings.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, loamy or rocky soil, including alkaline limestone soils; avoid persistently wet ground.

Height

15-25 ft (4.6-7.6 m)

Spread

10-20 ft (3-6.1 m)

Flowers

White, funnel-shaped flowers with yellow throats, produced in clusters from spring through autumn; flowering can continue intermittently through mild winters.

Foliage

Broad, oval, grey-green leaves with a rough, hairy surface. Evergreen in frost-free conditions, but may lose leaves in cold weather or severe drought.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Hard

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   7 ft (2.2 m)

3. After 2 years

   8 ft (2.4 m)

4. After 3 years

   9 ft (2.6 m)

5. After 5 years

   10 ft (3 m)

About 20 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Mildly toxic: may upset a stomach

Native to

the US

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant after frost danger has passed, in a sunny position sheltered from cold winds.
• Water the root ball and surrounding soil deeply during establishment, allowing the surface to dry between waterings.
• Once established, water during extended drought rather than giving frequent light sprinklings.
• Spread 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Avoid heavy feeding; use a modest application of balanced fertiliser in spring only if growth is weak.
• Protect young trees from frost with horticultural fleece, and keep container-grown plants frost-free.

Pruning. Prune lightly in late winter or early spring after the risk of hard frost has passed, removing dead, crossing or poorly placed branches. Train young plants gradually into a small tree or multi-stemmed shrub; avoid topping.

Late winter

Check for cold damage, but leave final pruning until hard frosts are unlikely.

Spring

Plant new trees after frost danger has passed and begin deep establishment watering.

Late spring

Refresh mulch and remove unwanted shoots if training a clear trunk.

Summer

Water during prolonged drought and check leaves and stems for scale insects.

Autumn

Clear fallen fruit from paving and reduce watering as temperatures fall.

Winter

Protect young plants during freezes; move containers to a bright, frost-free shelter.

• Use as a small specimen tree in a sunny courtyard where its flowers can be seen closely.
• Combine with agaves, yuccas and gravel for a drought-tolerant planting with contrasting leaf shapes.
• Plant in a loose mixed screen with other heat-tolerant shrubs, allowing room for its rounded crown.
• Use as a flowering focal point in a white garden, away from paving where fallen fruit could be a nuisance.

Garden styles it suits: Southwestern, Desert / xeriscape, Desert modern, Modern courtyard, White garden and Pollinator garden.

Plant it with: Red yucca, Texas sage, Autumn sage, Blackfoot daisy, Damianita and Gulf muhly.

Wildlife: Flowers attract bees and butterflies. Birds and other wildlife eat the fruit, and the branching crown provides cover.

• Freeze damage: leaves and young stems can die back in hard freezes. Use a sheltered site, protect young trees and wait for new growth before removing damaged wood.
• Root rot in wet soil: avoid low spots and frequent irrigation; improve drainage or replant on a broad raised mound.
• Scale insects: inspect stems and leaf undersides; treat significant infestations with horticultural oil according to the label, avoiding hot weather.
• Poor flowering in shade: provide full sun and avoid excessive nitrogen fertiliser.

The fruit is reported to cause stomach upset and dizziness when eaten raw, so do not treat it as an edible olive. Reliable information on toxicity to cats, dogs and horses is limited; keep pets and livestock from eating the fruit. Wildlife eating it does not establish that it is safe for people or pets.

• Wild olive (Cordia myxa)

  Has much smaller, cream-coloured flowers and generally smoother, greener leaves; Texas olive has large, showy white flowers with yellow throats.

• Geiger tree (Cordia sebestena)

  Has vivid orange flowers rather than white ones and is more sensitive to cold.

• Olive (Olea europaea)

  Has narrow leaves arranged in opposite pairs and tiny flowers; Texas olive has broad, rough leaves arranged alternately and large trumpet-shaped flowers.

The common name refers to its Texas range and olive-like fruit, although it is unrelated to the edible olive.

Propagation. Propagate from seed cleaned of its fleshy covering; germination can be slow and uneven. Semi-ripe cuttings taken during the growing season may root with warmth and rooting hormone.

Accepted botanical name

Cordia boissieri

In the US and Canada

Native in the lower 48 states.

Native range

El Salvador, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southwest, New Mexico and Texas.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.