Olea europaea (Common Olive)
Common Olive, Cultivated Olive, Edible Olive, European Olive, Lady's Oil, Olive Oil Plant, Sweet Oil Plant
A mainstay of Mediterranean gardens, Olea europaea (Common Olive) is a slow-growing, evergreen tree prized for its picturesque habit, gnarled trunk, silvery foliage and spreading crown. The gray-green leaves, 2-3 in. long (5-7 cm), are silvery beneath and beautiful through the seasons. Very small, white, fragrant flowers appear in axillary racemes in summer. The fruit is a drupe, the well-known olive, that comes in many sizes and shapes. Olives need good summer heat to make their best fruit. Long-lived and extremely resilient, common olive trees can be grown as informal trees or formally clipped standards. They make ravishing hedging and are tough enough to withstand neglect in containers.
- Grows up to 20-30 ft. tall and wide (6-9 m).
- Performs best in full sun in fertile, sharply-drained soils. Common olive trees are drought tolerant once established.
- A charming addition to coastal gardens, city gardens, gravel gardens, Mediterranean gardens or containers.
- If you want to harvest fruit from your olive tree, it is best to grow 2 different varieties as cross-pollination increases yields significantly.
- Disease free. Keep an eye out for scale insect.
- Propagate by seed in spring at a temperature of 13-15°C (55-59°F). Can also be propagated by semi-ripe cuttings in summer.
- Native to the Mediterranean region.
Buy Olea europaea (Common Olive)
Requirements
Hardiness | 8
– 10 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 8
– 10 |
Climate Zones | 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2 |
Plant Type | Trees |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Early,Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall Winter |
Height | 20' – 30' (6m – 9m) |
Spread | 20' – 30' (6m – 9m) |
Water Needs | Low |
Maintenance | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries |
Tolerance | Drought |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Mediterranean Garden |
By steveball, Kevin Wells Photography/ Shutterstock
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
Hardiness | 8
– 10 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 8
– 10 |
Climate Zones | 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2 |
Plant Type | Trees |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Early,Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall Winter |
Height | 20' – 30' (6m – 9m) |
Spread | 20' – 30' (6m – 9m) |
Water Needs | Low |
Maintenance | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries |
Tolerance | Drought |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Mediterranean Garden |