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Forestiera pubescens

downy forestiera

Oleaceae

Southwestern and south-central North America

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 6–10

Overview

Forestiera pubescens is a deciduous shrub of the southwestern and south-central United States, growing 6-15 ft (1.8-4.6 m) tall with arching, spreading branches that often bend at sharp angles, giving the common name elbow bush. The small leaves are 0.5-1.5 in (1.5-4 cm) long, oval, and softly hairy, gray-green above. In late winter to early spring, before or as the leaves emerge, it bears small clusters of inconspicuous yellow-green flowers on the bare twigs; plants are mostly male or female. Female plants ripen blue-black, olive-like drupes about 0.25 in (6 mm) long in spring and summer. It grows along streams, canyon bottoms, fencerows, and dry slopes in full sun to part shade. The dense, tangled branching can sucker and form thickets that spread. Leaves drop early in dry spells, leaving an open, twiggy frame. Birds eat the fruit and the early flowers feed bees.

Native Range

Native to the southwestern and south-central United States and northern Mexico, from Texas and Oklahoma west to Arizona, Colorado, and California. It grows along streams and canyons, on dry rocky slopes, and in desert grassland and fencerows.

Suggested Uses

Grown as an informal screen, hedge, or wildlife shrub in dryland and native gardens of the Southwest. It is planted in groups spaced 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m) apart for screening or massed for erosion control on slopes. The early flowers feed bees and the fruit draws birds.

How to Identify

Identify by the arching branches that bend at abrupt angles, the small, softly hairy gray-green leaves, and the clusters of tiny yellow-green flowers borne on bare twigs in early spring. Female plants carry small blue-black, olive-like fruits. The opposite branching and elbow-like twigs help separate it from similar dryland shrubs.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 15'

Width/Spread6' - 12'

Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Winter Spring

Clusters of small yellow-green flowers open in late winter to early spring, often February to April, before the leaves fully expand. Bloom is brief, lasting about 2-3 weeks. On female plants, blue-black fruits follow and ripen through late spring and summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

gray-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.5 - 8.5(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

rocky sand loam clay chalk

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Forestiera pubescens grows in full sun to part shade on a wide range of soils, including rocky, sandy, and alkaline ground, at a pH of 6.5-8.5, and tolerates drought once established. It needs only occasional deep watering in extreme drought and no fertilizer on most soils. It withstands heat, wind, and cold to about 0F (-18C). It suckers from the roots, so removing suckers limits thicket formation. It tolerates hard pruning and shearing into a hedge. It has few serious pests or diseases.

Pruning

Prune in late winter while dormant, thinning crowded and crossing branches and shortening arching stems to shape the shrub. It tolerates shearing and can be kept as a clipped hedge. Suckers can be removed at the base to keep the plant in bounds.

Pruning Schedule

winter