Aromatic evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy, lance-shaped leaves used in cooking. Tolerates heat and dry conditions once established. Trains as a formal hedge, screen, or topiary; benefits from afternoon shade in the low desert.

Bloom Time

Spring

Deciduous / Evergreen

Evergreen

Special Features

Deer / Rabbit Resistant, Edible, Fragrant

Growth Rate

Slow to moderate

Growth Habit

Upright tree – multi-trunk

Mature Size

10-30 ft tall × 5-20 ft wide

Flower Color

Yellow-green

Foliage Color

Dark green

Landscape Use

Container / Patio, Hedge / Screen, Specimen / Accent

Garden Style

Hedge / Formal, Mediterranean

Soil

Alkaline Tolerant, Well-Drained

Companion Plants

Citrus, Italian Cypress, Lavender, Olive, Rosemary

Toxic — Pets & Humans

Toxic to pets if ingested; culinary herb for humans

Care Instructions

Light: Full sun (afternoon shade in low desert)

Water: Low to moderate; deep watering, allowing soil to dry between waterings; more in summer heat.

Soil: Well-draining soil; tolerates alkaline desert soils but not waterlogged conditions.

Mature size: 10-30 ft tall, 5-20 ft wide

Bloom: Spring

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen

Growth rate: Slow to moderate