However, subsequent and more recent high wind storm events have shown that the Black Olive Trees held up as well as any other species, and better than most. However the Dwarf Black Olive (Bucida molentii syn spinosa), which reaches only about 8 feet tall and has very small leaves, probably is indigenous to the Keys and perhaps some other coastal areas of South Florida. The fruit of Bucida buceras however has little pulp and is not edible. In the late 1950’s the City of Miami circulated a bid proposal for the planting of approximately 100 Black Olive Trees along a new Parkway, but after searching for the trees for the project far and wide, the idea was ultimately abandoned due to the limited commercial availability of the species. When choosing plants, there is always a fine balance that exists between good and bad, feature and fault, pro and con. The caterpillars are actually nothing more than a self limiting, short term nuisance and while they can cause some defoliation and browning sometimes, they do not cause any permanent damage. [2] It is commonly found in coastal swamps and wet inland forests in low elevations. The number of Black Olive Trees growing in South Florida stands as a living testament to the power of sharing and community. The tree canopy grows dense and tight, with most having an outward, spreading horizontal habit. Staining of surfaces underneath Black Olive Trees which was once also considered a major fault of the tree is actually just a natural, organic and temporary side effect of the ….err……waste products produced by the caterpillar (scientifically referred to as frass) and yes, it means what you think it means). We love all plants here, and have rarely met a plant that we could not find some likeable feature in. The Black Olive Tree (Bucida buceras) is a tropical tree native to Central America and most of the Caribbean, though some experts believe its origins may have reached north to the Florida Keys. What is simply too much work and bother for one gardener is a labor of love for another. We do not trim our Shady Ladies any, above 4-5 ft from the ground. But there was something about that one tree that piqued his interest. But its best and most appealing feature perhaps is not the aesthetic beauty of the large, dense, horizontal spread of the canopy but rather that promise of a cool, dark respite of relief from the tropical sun that beckons from underneath it. One of things we like most about plants is the rich and interesting stories and histories about them. The inedible fruit sets a few weeks later and is attractive to birds. The black olive tree is a warm climate plant and cannot tolerate cold temperatures. They have been planted for 5 years now and are 25 to 30 ft tall. Despite the common name, this tree (Bucida buceras) is completely unrelated to the edible olive (Olea europaea). In short, as trees goes, the Shady Lady Black Olive is a fine example of balance, and while not perfect in every way, in the right setting, she certainly brings an elegance, style and grace to a tropical landscape that by far outweighs her few faults…..in my humble opinion (of course). The story of how the Black Olive Tree came to be introduced into Florida, and then evolved to be one of the most popular and widely used street and urban trees in South Florida is an interesting bit of horticultural history, and offers a great example of the gardening axiom that should always be kept in mind when choosing plants is that no choice will be always be perfect in every way on every day. [3][4] Its roots are able to dig up paving stones and damage foundations. Breakage within the canopy and the loss of geotrophism (knowing up from down) was also called out as a fault in this species following hurricane Andrew. It is native to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. It helped very much to know, as we are going through defoliation and thought we had a serious disease or insect, but now we know we just have to be patient and it will grow back. Bucida buceras is a tree in the Combretaceae family. By the mid 70’s, although commercial demand for the Black Olive Tree remained strong, the nursery profession had a love/hate relationship with it. However, it was primarily harvested from the wild and not cultivated for that use. The Black Olive Tree (Bucida buceras) is a tropical tree native to Central America and the Caribbean. The wood is dense, heavy and very close grained, and is favorite choice of boat builders. [3][4], To grow it prefers high sunlight and rich, moist, well drained soil. If we need trimming and they’re so tall and we’re in our seventies, I don’t know who could trim them and who has the knowledge to trim a Shady Lady properly! However, better to try one and see if you agree Buy Shady Lady Black Olive. One is nice and fully round and the other was tall and more rectangular oval shape but I have not done any trimming on the inside.. Is that really necessary to do other than wind breakage? Some experts believe its native range includes the Florida Keys, but others believe this particular species was introduced later by foreigners. Some trees also grow a sharp thorn-like spine on old growth behind the leaf node. It is known by a variety of names in English, including bullet tree, black olive tree, gregorywood (or gregory wood), Antigua whitewood, and oxhorn bucida. Although the Dwarf Black Olive (Bucida molentii (syn spinosa)) is generally the preferred type for miniaturization, the Shady Lady Black Olive makes an excellent large Garden Bonsai specimen. The bark may be used for tanning leather due to its tannin content. But, more about that on some other day. It is known by a variety of names in English, including bullet tree, black olive tree, gregorywood (or gregory wood), Antigua whitewood, and oxhorn bucida. Your email address will not be published. We are between Fort Myers and Naples Florida. Bucida buceras is a tree in the Combretaceae family. [3][4] It is also often used as an ornamental/shade tree. That which is a desirable feature in one application, or even within a certain season, or growth stage can be a fault in another. The odd angled growth that was once observed and written up by an expert as being specific to the Black Olive was later also seen in live oaks, pines and other species in central Florida following Hurricanes Charley, Jean, Frances and Wilma, which hit that area back to back in 2004. Another favorite use of the Shady Lady Black Olive is for Bonsai. Before this tree gained commercial popularity for ornamental use, its primary use was as a lumber source. Once a species catches on in the landscape trade, growers begin, of course, to study and learn how to efficiently produce it in large numbers as quickly as possible, but secondly they begin to observe the growth habit and features closely in hopes of spotting cultivars with different, stronger or more desirable features than the original species in general. Although the spring bloom is described as nondescript by horticultural experts, I would disagree. The average 20 to 30 feet mature height makes it better suited for street, parking lot, and other commercial and urban applications. The caterpillar of the Galeria Moth, Characoma nilotica will sometimes feed on the flowers in the spring, this was once considered to be a major fault of the Black Olive Tree, but that was back in the days when many believed the only good bug was a dead one. [4], "Bucida buceras - Useful Tropical Plants", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bucida_buceras&oldid=972753559, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 13 August 2020, at 17:03. The Shady Lady Black Olive grows more dense, tight, uniform, and smaller. Will they both grow and fill out to have the natural drooping arm like design of most mature Shady Lady trees? Usage Before gaining commercial popularity for ornamental use, it was primarily used as a source for lumber, as the trunk is dense, heavy and very close grained. The original Bucida buceras had a lot going for them. The crop of starter plants produced from this seed was sold to David Sinclair at Sinclair Landscape Nursery in Miami. The Black Olive Tree (Bucida buceras) is a tropical tree native to Central America and the Caribbean. As a whole the species is highly salt tolerant and puts down deep anchoring roots making it able to endure high winds with little damage. [1] It is native to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. The species was originally brought to the Miami area from Jamaica by a Catholic priest some time in the early 1900s. He planted a pair at his church. The Black Olive nomer is likely the result of the vague resemblance of the fruit to the edible olive (mostly round with a single seed). As this crop developed, David Sinclair noticed a tree growing differently from the rest the crop, which was not an uncommon finding when dealing with this genus.
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