Meet the natives: Wild olive

SCCF Wild olive
Looking for a versatile, low-maintenance, hardy shrub? Look no further than the wild olive (Forestiera segregata). Also known as the Florida privet, it just might be the plant you are looking for. This 10- to 15-foot shrub can be used as a buffer shrub or stand alone as a landscape accent. It tolerates full sun to partial shade and a range of soil conditions from dry to moist. Wild olive is quite attractive when in full bloom as it becomes covered with small greenish-yellow flowers that attract bees. The flowers are followed by small, dark fruits that resemble small olives — hence the name — which birds love.