New Mexico Olive
Forestiera pubescens

Family: Olive (Oleaceae)
AKA: Desert Olive, Stretchberry, Elbowbush, Spring Herald
Photo taken on: August 23, 2013
Location: Chama Valley, NM
Life Zones: Foothills
Habitat: Washes, along streams, open woodlands

A straggly, multi-stemmed, shrubby tree growing to 15 feet tall with smooth gray bark and lance-shaped, simple leaves. It can form thickets. The yellow flowers bloom in clusters on the stems before the leaves. Trees are either male or female. The flowers pictured below show the female on the left, the male on the right. Abundant berries are blue-black and an important food source for wildlife.

Photos below taken on: April 16, 2017
Location: Rio Chama, Abiquiu, NM