Creekside Blog
Texas Wild Olive
Published December 22, 2017
This ornamental member of the Borage family has highly attractive dark, soft oval leaves about 7" long by 3" wide. The tree can reach 15-30' tall with a 10-16' spread. Although highly drought tolerant, it is very sensitive to cold weather north of the Austin area, but thrives in Zones 9-11. Clusters of pretty white, funnel-shaped flowers with yellow throats grow 2-3" across, and resemble delicate white crepe paper. The fruit may be sweet, but eaten raw they are slightly toxic and may cause dizziness. Early Texas settlers used the fruit to make a perfectly safe and delicious jelly, the syrup derived from the fruit as a cough medicine, a dye for cloth and a folk remedy for rheumatism. The wood is even highly prized in carpentry. Currently available here at the nursery in 15 gallon pots.
This ornamental member of the Borage family has highly attractive dark, soft oval leaves about 7" long by 3" wide. The tree can reach 15-30' tall with a 10-16' spread. Although highly drought tolerant, it is very sensitive to cold weather north of the Austin area, but thrives in Zones 9-11. Clusters of pretty white, funnel-shaped flowers with yellow throats grow 2-3" across, and resemble delicate white crepe paper. The fruit may be sweet, but eaten raw they are slightly toxic and may cause dizziness. Early Texas settlers used the fruit to make a perfectly safe and delicious jelly, the syrup derived from the fruit as a cough medicine, a dye for cloth and a folk remedy for rheumatism. The wood is even highly prized in carpentry. Currently available here at the nursery in 15 gallon pots.
