New Mexican Privet

Desert Olive, New Mexico Olive, Stretchberry

Forestiera pubescens var. pubescens

for-es-STEER-uh pew-BES-senz
9 to 12 ft.
8 to 12 ft.
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very low

yellow-green

early summer

9 to 12 ft.

8 to 12 ft.

Yes

southwestern United States

sun, part shade

USDA zones 4-9

hardy to 7,500 ft.

New Mexico privet is an upright shrub with bright, light green leaves that turn yellow in fall. It can be pruned into a multi-stemmed, tree-like shape or can be left as a rambling, rounded bush.

Its flowers are small, but showy when there are masses of them. The resulting fruit are small blue-black berries in late summer, which are rather showy and very attractive to birds. Fruit is produced a female plants only; plant several plants to ensure a male is present if berries are desired.

The white bark is a beautiful contrast to the light green leaves, an it shows well against dark backgrounds during the winter. It is an excellent choice for low water landscapes in Colorado Springs.

very low

yellow-green

early summer

9 to 12 ft.

8 to 12 ft.

Yes

southwestern United States

sun, part shade

USDA zones 4-9

hardy to 7,500 ft.

At the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden, New Mexico privet is growing in several areas. It is an excellent performer under low water conditions.

We have shrubs that are being shaped into small trees, as well as shrubs that have been left to grow in their natural form.

The shrubs being grown as multi-stemmed small trees require yearly pruning. Suckers emerge from the base periodically and need to be clipped off. New Mexican privet's drought tolerance and multiple ornamental characteristics make this a shrub we highly recommend.

Minimal maintenance is required. If you want it to grow as a mult-stemmed small tree, prune for shape when young.