Weekly planter: Texas wild olive is suitable for small yards

Texas wild olive — Cordia boissieri — is a flowering large shrub or small tree that grows naturally from Texas and Mexico through Guatemala. It is a salt-tolerant and drought-tolerant species.

The white funnel-shaped flowers with bright yellow throats appear in terminal clusters against the dark green, hairy leaves that have a silvery cast.

If watered in winter, the tree will bloom off and on year-round; otherwise, its flowers are abundant in spring and summer. The canopy is round. This is a good candidate for small yards and for placement near power lines. It grows to 10 to 20 feet and prefers full sun.

To get started in life, even drought-tolerant trees require regular moisture during the first growing season. Place this in a location that is well-drained. Fertilize with a slow-release formula twice a year.

MIAMI HERALD ARCHIVES

This story was originally published January 15, 2016 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Weekly planter: Texas wild olive is suitable for small yards."