The flowers of the wild olive are small and white with a cream or greenish tint; similar to those of their close relative, the real olive tree. Flowers arrive in axillary sprays during spring and summer and are sweetly scented. The fruit is not as impressive as the olive, but edible although bitter or astringent. The fruits are spherical and variously coloured from green to black as seen in this picture taken in Jonkershoek near Stellenbosch during July.

Birds and monkeys do most of the eating of these fruits. The leaves have been used to brew a tea substitute (Schmidt, et al, 2002; Coates Palgrave, 2002).