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Native Plant Society of Texas

Elbowbush

Forestiera pubescens

Other common name(s):

Stretchberry, Spring Herald, Desert Olive, Tanglewood, Devil's Elbow, Spring Goldenglow, New Mexico Privet, Texas Forsythia

Family:

Oleaceae (Olive Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau, Southwestern Tablelands, Texas Blackland Prairies
Limestone Plains, Red Prairie
Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas
Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Canadian/Cimarron Breaks
Northern Blackland Prairie

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

4
to
10
ft.

Spread

4
to
10
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Well Drained, Moist, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Berry, Fall Color, Nectar, Pollen, Larval Host, Flowers

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals, Nectar Insects, Bees

Maintenance

Very little maintenance needed. Give plenty of room for thicket-forming habit or prune to fit space. Well suited as spreading background plant. Very adaptable – tolerating wide range of growing conditions. Fall foliage turns a chartreuse yellow. Propagation: seed.

Comments

Blooms January-June. Irregular shaped shrub with arching branches. Elbow-bush gets its name from the branches that grow at right angles. Leaves are small, oval, and pubescent. Inconspicuous yellow flowers, without petals, occur in small clusters on bare twigs in early spring before leaves emerge. Male and female flowers are on separate bushes. Dark blue, small, round, fleshy fruits occur on the female bush. Larval host: Hairstreaks.

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed Stratification Plant seeds in moist soil in the fall or prior to February for natural stratification. For spring planting in May, seeds must be stratified for 30 days in moist sand at 38 degrees Fahrenheit. Harvest fruit when it has turned dark purple in late summer. Cut them open to retrieve seeds. Rinse seeds to remove any flesh that is still attached, and then leave them out to dry. Store in ventilated bags or containers in cool, dry place. 1) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=fopup#: 2) https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/factsheet/pdf/fs_fopu2.pdf 3) https://www.theeyrye.com/forestiera.html
Stem Cutting Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. https://www.theeyrye.com/forestiera.html

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason