Common Name:

scrub wild olive

Synonym(s):

Osmanthus megacarpus

Genus species:

Cartrema floridanum

Family:

Oleaceae

Form:

tree

Size:

15-20 (30) ft tall by 10 ft wide

Life Span:

long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

black

Phenology:

evergreen

Noted For:

Recommended Uses:

Screen plant esp. for sunny, dry sites. Specimen plant where its shiny foliage will be appreciated.

Considerations:

Slow growing.

Availability:

Propagation:

seed

Light:

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Not wet but not extremely dry ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

9A, 9B

Wildlife:

Larger birds and small mammals eat the fruit.

Bees and other pollinators

Native Habitats:

Dry sites. Scrub, scrubby sandhill.

Natural Range in Florida:

Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants

Ethnobotany:

Fruit is edible.

General Comments:

Endemic to Florida.