Wild Olive - Olea europaea subsp. africana
Wild Olive - Olea europaea subsp. africana

Common names: wild olive (English); umnquma (Xhosa); umnquma (Zulu); olienhout (Afrikaans). 
Botanical name: Olea europaea subsp. africana
Previously known as: Olea europaea subsp. africana

The wild olive, Olea europaea subsp. africana, is a hardy evergreen tree with a dense crown of glossy grey-green to dark-green leaves. It produces fragrant white flowers and edible purple-black fruits that attract various animals and birds. The wood is valued for furniture and ornaments, and the leaves and fruits have traditional medicinal uses. The wild olive can grow in various habitats, often near water. It is a popular choice for bonsai, street planting, and landscaping, as it can withstand frost, drought, and wind.

Uses & Benefits: bonsai, food, medicine, phyto-remediation, pot plant, tea

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Nature & Cultivation

Family: Oleaceae
Type: shrub, tree
Vegetation type: Peninsula Shale Renosterveld 
Flower colour: white
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Plant-animal interactions: bees, birds, butterflies
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Use as Medicine

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