Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

scrub wild olive

Synonym(s):

Osmanthus megacarpus

Genus species:

Cartrema floridanum

Family:

Oleaceae

Plant Specifics

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:

Showy Flowers, Aroma/Showy Fruitsagrance, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

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

Considerations:

Slow growing.

Availability:

Seed

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Coming Soon!

Not wet but not extremely dry ---to--- 1Stays wet

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

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:

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Birds, Mammals

Bees and other pollinators.

Larger birds and small mammals eat the fruit.

Native Habitats:

Dry sites. Scrub, scrubby sandhill.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Fruit is edible.

General Comments:

This is a Florida endemic.