Desert Olive Privet

Desert olive privet, also called stretchberry or New Mexico olive, is a native southwestern shrub with a multi-stemmed, rounded to vase-shaped form. It is deciduous: small yellow to yellow-green flowers open before new leaves, and female plants may carry dark bluish-black fruit later in the year. Male and female flowers occur on separate plants, so fruit depends on having a female plant and a pollen source. ## Size and site Mature size varies with moisture and growing conditions. Oregon State reports 3–10 feet tall, USDA NRCS notes 12–15 feet under ideal conditions, and the Yavapai County plant profile records up to 18 feet tall and 12 feet wide. Use it where a large, irregular screen or wildlife hedge can develop. It grows in full sun and is commonly found along washes and streambanks, yet also occurs in drier upland settings. Sandy soil and modest water needs suit it; established plants are considered fairly drought tolerant, though supplemental water can improve performance. See the [Yavapai County profile](https://yavapaiplants.extension.arizona.edu/forestiera-pubescens) for habitat and fruit details. ## Maintenance Allow space for the mature branches and remove only unwanted basal shoots. Water during establishment and prolonged dry spells; the species tolerates drought after establishment but grows better with adequate soil moisture.