Mexican Olive
Cordia boissieri
OrderBoraginales
FamilyCordiaceae
HabitatSouth Texas brushland and plantings
SeasonBlooms spring through fall, heaviest after rains
LocationBentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Mission, Texas, Hidalgo County, Texas
SizeSmall tree, 15-25 feet
Dietnectar for hummingbirds and bees; fruit for birds and mammals
ConservationSecure; widely planted as an ornamental
CameraNikon D500Lens600mmAperturef/6.3Shutter1/500ISO1800
Mexican Olive caught in full bloom at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park.
About the Mexican Olive
The Mexican Olive, or anacahuita, is one of the signature flowering trees of deep South Texas, wearing big trumpet-shaped white blossoms with soft yellow throats nearly year-round. Native from the Rio Grande Valley south into Mexico, it is beloved by hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.
The olive-like fruit that follows the flowers feeds birds and mammals, and the tree's dense evergreen crown offers nesting cover in the brushland. It has become a favorite drought-tough ornamental across South Texas towns.
This blooming tree was photographed at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in Mission.
Want to see a Mexican Olive in the wild?
Join one of my guided birding tours! Fine art prints of my photos are also available.
Join one of my guided birding tours! Fine art prints of my photos are also available.
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