{"product_id":"texas-olive","title":"Texas Olive","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTexas olive\u003c\/strong\u003e pairs crinkled white flowers with broad, softly textured leaves. The blossoms have yellow throats, a small detail that becomes especially clear in a close view. Mark Miller photographed this flowering plant at \u003ca href=\"\/products\/walking-trails-at-the-living-desert-zoo-and-gardens-in-palm-desert\"\u003eThe Living Desert in Palm Desert\u003c\/a\u003e on October 15, 2026.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eCordia boissieri\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAlso called:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mexican olive, wild olive and anacahuita\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Large shrub or small tree\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative range:\u003c\/strong\u003e Southern Texas and northern Mexico\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCoachella Valley status:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cultivated, non-native\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTypical size:\u003c\/strong\u003e About 15–20 feet tall and 10–15 feet wide, depending on conditions and training\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to recognize it\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eLook for clusters of white, flaring flowers with yellow centers at the branch tips. The broad leaves have conspicuous veins and a soft, pale underside. Together, the flowers and foliage distinguish it from plants with similarly colored blooms but much smaller leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDespite its common name, Texas olive is not the culinary olive, \u003cem\u003eOlea europaea\u003c\/em\u003e. Its name refers to the olive-like appearance of its fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eIn a desert landscape\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis plant can be allowed to branch as a large shrub or trained into a small tree. It grows in sunny, well-drained locations and tolerates dry conditions once established, although moisture availability influences flowering. Cold weather can damage foliage or cause leaf loss.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAllow room for its mature canopy, and consider flower and fruit litter when choosing a position beside paving. Avoid treating a photograph of an irrigated garden specimen as a promise of year-round flowering in every yard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout these photographs\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe wider view and flower close-up show the same plant. Identification is based on the visible flowers and leaves; a garden label was not photographed. Both images document a cultivated specimen at The Living Desert.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eExplore more\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/flora\"\u003eFlora of the Coachella Valley\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/tecoma-stans-yellow-bells\"\u003eYellow bells\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/desert-lavender\"\u003eDesert lavender\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSources\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ask.ifas.ufl.edu\/publication\/ST181\"\u003eUniversity of Florida IFAS Extension: Texas olive\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/apps.cals.arizona.edu\/arboretum\/taxon.aspx?id=80\"\u003eUniversity of Arizona Campus Arboretum: Cordia boissieri\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003ePhotography © Mark Miller, October 15, 2026. Botanical sources checked October 15, 2026.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Desert Oasis Insider","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67819679547673,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0868\/6813\/2121\/files\/texas-olive-flowers-living-desert-2026-10-15.jpg?v=1792117933","url":"https:\/\/desertoasisinsider.shop\/products\/texas-olive","provider":"Desert Oasis Insider","version":"1.0","type":"link"}