Scientific Family
Oleaceae
Synonyms
Forestiera pubescens, Adelia pubescens
Other common names
stretchberry
desert olive
downy forestiera
elbowbush
Plant type
Shrubs
Riparian
Yes
Plant Description
Origin
Native
Erect spreading shrub to small tree. Multi-trunked, maturing into a rounded vase-shape. Younger branches hairy.
Large much-branched shrub; gray bark, spiny branches. Leaves opposite, oblong to rounded; finely-toothed margins. Inconspicuous flowers in small clusters, male flowers and female flowers on separate plants. Fruit olive or grape-like, blue-black.
Height
18 feet
Width
12 feet
Habitat
Habitat description
Common in moist soils of canyon bottoms, washes and stream banks but also found in drier areas.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
2000
High elevation
7000
Leaves
Leaf color
Green to gray-green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Leaf Drop
Deciduous
Leaves are opposite and in bundled clusters. Oval to elliptical leaves are to 1-1/2 inches long. Margins are smooth to finely toothed. Leaves appear after flowers.
Flowers
Flower color
Yellow-green
Flower shape
Inconspicuous
Tubular
No
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
July
Clusters of tiny, fragrant blossoms with no petals. Stamens give flowers a yellowish cast. Male and female flowers on separate plants.
Flower clusters
Rounded
Fruit
Fruit color
Bluish-black
Fruit type
Other
Fruit is bluish-black, olive or grape-shaped; up to 1/4 inch long, containing 1 bony seed.