Water
Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Overwatering is detrimental to desert-olive.
Reduce watering significantly during winter dormancy to prevent root rot and promote drought tolerance.
Also known as Desert Olive · Desert-Olive Forestiera
Forestiera phillyreoides, the desert-olive, is a resilient evergreen shrub or small tree native to arid regions, valued for its drought tolerance and adaptability to vari
At-a-glance light, water, soil, and growing conditions from plant data
Full Sun
100% intensity
Prefers at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for best flowering and fruiting.
Moderate to Low
25% intensity
Allow soil to dry out between waterings; reduce in winter.
well-drained
50% intensity
Moderate to High
75% intensity
Thrives in warm to hot temperatures; protect from prolonged hard freezes.
Low
25% intensity
Feed sparingly in spring with a balanced fertilizer if needed; generally undemanding.
Safety information from plant toxicity data
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Toxic for humans | No 0/5 intensity |
| Toxic for pets | No 0/5 intensity |
None
Key traits and growing stats from plant data
Watering, pruning, propagation, and repotting details from plant data
Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Overwatering is detrimental to desert-olive.
Reduce watering significantly during winter dormancy to prevent root rot and promote drought tolerance.
Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth begins to shape the plant and remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches. Light pruning can be done after flowering to maintain its form and encourage bushier growth.
Propagate desert-olive from semi-hardwood cuttings taken in summer. Root cuttings in a well-draining medium. Seeds can also be sown in spring after a period of stratification, though germination can be slow and erratic.
Repot young plants every 2-3 years in spring, or when root-bound, using a well-draining potting mix. Mature plants generally prefer to be slightly pot-bound and may only need repotting every 4-5 years to refresh the soil.
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Monthly activity intensity for bloom and fruit across both hemispheres.
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Photos of Desert-Olive (Forestiera phillyreoides)
Common names and botanical synonyms
Botanical classification
| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Division | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Lamiales |
| Family | Oleaceae |
| Genus | Forestiera |
| Species | Forestiera phillyreoides |
Similar in genus Forestiera
Answers based on plant encyclopedia data
