Texas Olive, Anacahuita

Frost Tolerance: Hardy to 18°F (-8°C)

Sun Exposure: Full sun, tolerates reflected heat

Origin: USA (Texas: Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico), Mexico (Hidalgo, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas)

Growth Habits: Deciduous, large shrub or can be trained as a small tree, 10 to 25 feet tall and wide (3-7.5 m); single gray-green leaves, rough to the touch, up to 5 inches long (12.5 cm), 2 inches wide (5 cm), with lighter undersides

Watering Needs: Regular to little water when established, needs good drainage

Propagation: Seed or cuttings in summer

The genus is named for Euricius Cordus and his son Valerius, 16th century German physicians and botanists. The species is named for Pierre-Edmond Boissier, 19th century Swiss botanist.

Blooming Habits:
Showy funnel-shaped, single white flowers with yellow throat, 1.5 to 2.5 inches in diameter (3.7-6.2 cm) in spring and occasionally in fall.

Fruiting Habits:
Fleshy, but unedible, yellow-green roundish fruit, 1 inch long (2.5 cm) with one (to 4) large seed(s). The fruit is slightly toxic, causing dizziness when fresh, reported safe in jellies. It is eaten by the birds.

Culture:
Propagation by seeds might be tricky. Best results are obtained with fresh seeds at temperatures above 95°F (35°C)