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Queen Creek, AZ 85142

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Texas Olive – Desert Horizon Nursery

Texas Olive

Cordia boissieri
Categories:
Trees  ·  
Flowering Trees
Light
Full sun
Water
Low to moderate water once established. Water deeply, allowing soil to dry between irrigations; provide supplemental summer irrigation in Phoenix for fuller foliage and better flowering. Water young trees more regularly during establishment.
Size
10-15 ft tall × 10-15 ft wide
Habit
Upright tree – multi-trunk
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Description
A heat-loving small tree native to southern Texas and northeastern Mexico, with broad, velvety leaves, showy white flowers, and olive-like fruits; not a true olive.
Bloom Time
Spring through fall
Deciduous / Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Special Features
Attracts Bees / Pollinators, Attracts Birds, Drought Tolerant, Heat Tolerant, Showy Flowers
Growth Rate
Moderate
Growth Habit
Upright tree – multi-trunk
Mature Size
10-15 ft tall × 10-15 ft wide
Flower Color
White
Foliage Color
Gray-green
Landscape Use
Container / Patio, Desert / Xeriscape, Hedge / Screen, Pollinator / Wildlife Garden, Shade Tree, Specimen / Accent
Garden Style
Desert / Xeriscape, Hedge / Formal, Pollinator / Wildlife
Soil
Alkaline Tolerant, Sandy / Rocky, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
Autumn sage, Damianita, Desert marigold, Red yucca, Texas sage
Non-toxic
Non-toxic (fruit edible in moderation; large quantities may cause GI upset)
Care Instructions

Light: Full sun; tolerates light shade, but flowers best with ample sunlight.

Water: Low to moderate water once established. Water deeply, allowing soil to dry between irrigations; provide supplemental summer irrigation in Phoenix for fuller foliage and better flowering. Water young trees more regularly during establishment.

Soil: Well-drained sandy, loamy, or rocky soil; tolerates alkaline soil. Avoid prolonged saturation and poorly drained planting sites.

Mature size: Usually 15–25 feet tall and 10–20 feet wide.

Bloom: Flowers intermittently from spring through fall, often in heavier flushes following rain or irrigation.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen to semi-evergreen in Phoenix; may lose leaves during frost or extended cold.

Growth rate: Moderate; faster with appropriate irrigation during warm weather.