American olive
Osmanthus americanus
Family: Oleaceae
What it is like
An evergreen shrub or small tree. It grows 9 m tall. The trunk is 30 cm across. The bark is grey, thin and scaly. The inner bark is dark red. The crown is oblong. The leaves are opposite and 9-13 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. They are narrowly oval and thick and leathery. They are shiny green above and dull and paler underneath. The flowers are 5 mm wide. They are bell shaped and white. The male and female flowers are usually on separate plants. The flowers are in clusters. The fruit are like olives. They are dark blue and 10-19 mm long. They have a thin pulp and large stone.
There are about 32 Osmanthus species.
Where it is found
It is a subtropical plant. It grows in moist soils. It can be near riverbanks or as an understorey plant in forests. It grows to 150 m altitude in the southern USA.
Countries/locations it is found in
Mexico, North America, USA
How it is used for food
The fruit are softened in brine and used like green olives. The flowers are used to add aroma to black tea.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Devilwood, Wild olive