Family: Combretaceae

Terminalia buceras (syn. Bucida buceras) is a single-trunked tree that will reach 25 feet when mature. It features an upright, rounded crown. A perfect street tree, black olive is resistant to wind, salt, attacks from pests, and its roots are unobtrusive.

Common names can be very confusing. For example, Terminalia buceras is commonly called ‘black olive.’ However, T. buceras is not related to olive trees famous in Mediterranean cuisine. Another common name is ‘geometry tree,’ a name held by more than one species.

Plant Uses:

• Bonsai
• Container plant
• Erosion control
• Hedge
• Medicinal
• Ornamental
• Privacy / screening
• Specimen
• Windbreak
• Bonzai

Plant Dangers:

• Thorns or spines

High Risk Traits:

• Produces thorns/spines.
  
• Unpalatable to grazers (high tannins).
  
• Resprouts after damage (suckers).
  
• Tolerates wide soil types, salinity, and drought.

Low Risk Traits:

• Not naturalized, or weedy.
  
• No allelopathy, parasitism, or toxicity.
  
• Requires full sun (not shade tolerant).
  
• Slow-growing; late reproductive maturity (>4 years).
  
• Low seed production; no persistent seed bank.
  
• No vegetative spread or unintentional dispersal.