Menodora spinescens var. spinescens
Spiny desert olive
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Oleaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Menodora spinescens var. spinescens (Spiny desert olive) is a native California shrub in the Oleaceae family, recognized by flower size and sexual expression.
Spiny desert olive is a California native shrub found in the northern slopes of the Transverse Ranges, southern eastern Sierra Nevada, and northern Mojave Desert on rocky desert hillsides and in canyons at elevations of 690 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces delicate flowers with white to pale yellow corollas. Growing with distinctive spiny branches 30 to 100 centimeters tall, it forms a dense, intricate shrub with woody, persistent stems. Its leaves are small and narrow, providing a subtle texture to the plant's overall appearance. The flowers feature unique characteristics, with corolla tubes 2.5 to 3.7 millimeters long and yellow anthers that are partially exposed.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinguished by flower size and sexual expression
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky desert hillsides, canyons
Elevation: 690-2000(2300) m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Mono
Outside California: southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, northwestern Arizona
Bloom period
Menodora spinescens var. spinescens blooms Apr-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Cercis: Menodora has small narrow leaves; Cercis has large heart-shaped leaves several inches wide.; vs Crocanthemum: Menodora has yellow flowers and two-lobed capsules; Crocanthemum has crinkled petals and round capsules.; vs Pleiacanthus: Menodora is a woody shrub with yellow flowers; Pleiacanthus is herbaceous with white/pinkish flowers.; vs Eulobus: Menodora has two-lobed capsules; Eulobus has four-angled cylindrical capsules.; vs Forestiera: Menodora has alternate leaves; Forestiera has opposite leaves in pairs.
Frequently asked questions
Is Menodora spinescens var. spinescens native to California?
Yes. Menodora spinescens var. spinescens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Menodora spinescens var. spinescens bloom?
Menodora spinescens var. spinescens blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Menodora spinescens var. spinescens grow?
Menodora spinescens var. spinescens occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Mono, at elevations of 690-2000(2300) m.
What plant family does Menodora spinescens var. spinescens belong to?
Menodora spinescens var. spinescens is in the Oleaceae family, genus Menodora.
What habitat does Menodora spinescens var. spinescens grow in?
Menodora spinescens var. spinescens grows in Rocky desert hillsides, canyons.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Menodora scabra — Rough menodora
- Menodora scabra var. glabrescens — Broom tvinberry
- Menodora scabra var. scabra — Rough desert olive
- Menodora sp.
- Menodora spinescens — Spiny desert olive
- Menodora spinescens var. mohavensis — Mojave menodora
- Olea europaea — Olive
- Olea sp. — Olive
- Oleaceae sp. — Olive family
- Forestiera pubescens — Desert olive
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-09
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.