Elbowbush
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Also known as Elbowbush, Stretchberry, Spring Herald, Desert Olive, Tanglewood, Devil's Elbow, Spring Goldenglow, New Mexico Privet, Texas Forsythia
The New Mexico forestiera is a multi-trunked medium shrub that grows upright and matures into a rounded vase shape. The sharply branching limbs have a pale gray bark that contrasts nicely with the small, bright green leaves. Clusters of tiny, yellow-green, fragrant blossoms appear in early spring, providing an essential source of nectar for bees. Female plants produce numerous small, fleshy blue-black fruits that ripen in late summer and provide a winter food source for many species of birds and small mammals.
The New Mexico forestiera grows in canyons, rocky slopes, and desert flats in the Trans-Pecos region west to Utah and California. It can tolerate drought and all types of soil, even saline, and will grow in the sun or partial shade. In severe drought, it will lose its leaves. After the main trunks become established, they can be pruned into a small tree, providing sculptural qualities as an accent or specimen plant.
BONAP MAP
Height: 5’-10’
Spread: 5’-8’
Bloom: January-March
Light: Full Sun, Part Shade, Dappled Shade
Water: Low to Medium
Zone: 8, 9
Origin: Southwestern U.S.
Winter Shipping: We will continue to ship throughout winter. If you prefer, we are happy to hold your order until spring; please include that request in your shipping notes.
When you order plants from our nursery, you can expect them to arrive in the best possible condition. Our team carefully packs each order using sturdy, biodegradable packaging materials.
Your plants' appearance may vary depending on the season and their current growth stage. We may cut back the leafy growth of some plants to prepare them for shipment and transplanting.
5 Gallon and Up: Any plant purchased to ship over 5 Gallons will be shipped bare root. This means we will remove the plant from its original pot, remove the soil surrounding the roots, and wrap the roots with a biodegradable plastic bag. This reduces weight and the likelihood of damage during shipping.
Once your plants arrive, it is essential to plant them as soon as possible. This will help them rebound and thrive. If you cannot plant immediately, water regularly and keep the roots off heat-conducting surfaces.
Newly transplanted plants often require more water until their roots are well established. Plan to water them 1-3 times weekly for the first few months.
