National Plant Network's grower approved selections take the guesswork out of gardening! Sweet Olive is an evergreen shrub prized for its glossy dark green leaves and intensely sweet, apricot-jasmine scented flowers that bloom in spring and occasionally again later in the year. After flowering, it produces small purple-black fruits; unlike common olives, it is not typically consumed due to its bitter nature. It thrives in USDA zones 8 through 11 in part sun with well-drained soil and tolerates moderate drought once established. This versatile shrub is best used as a fragrant specimen near patios or doorways, as a privacy screen or hedge, or even as a focal point in a large containers. Sweet Olive takes well to being pruned and can also be trained into a tree form or espalier for those desiring an elevated, regal look.