Wild Olive

Osmanthus americanus (a.k.a Cartrema americana)

Sizes: 1, 3 & 7 Gallon Availability

Shrub
Max Size: 20′ tall x 10′ wide
Average Size: 12′ tall x 7′ wide

Loam, Sand
Part Shade, Shade
Usually Moist, Moist to Dry
Tolerant of salty wind, low tolerance to sea spray

AKA: American Olive, Devilwood

This evergreen small tree or large shrub blooms in spring with white flowers. The flowers are fragrant and can make a nice addition to a small bouquet or harvested to make scents. It fruits edible olives in late summer to early fall. They are a dark blue drupe and are noted to be bitter, and not preferred. Some sources say you should not have more than a few at a time, so use caution when trying. Wild olives only need to be pruned to shape and to remove any dead or diseased branches. The flowers attract bees, and small birds and mammals eat the fruits.