The Olive Tree is a timeless evergreen native to the Mediterranean region, admired for its elegant form, silvery foliage, and valuable fruit. While mature trees in open ground can grow up to 10 m tall, dwarf and cultivated varieties are typically maintained at 1.5–2.5 m, making them well suited for gardens, patios, and large containers.
It features a distinctive gnarled trunk and narrow, oblong leaves with a silvery-green sheen that adds year-round visual interest. In spring, the tree produces small, fragrant, creamy-white flowers, which later develop into oval-shaped olives that ripen from green to deep purple-black. Olives are prized for their oil, widely used in cooking, cosmetics, and traditional medicine. Olive trees are slow-growing but extremely long-lived, resilient, and drought-tolerant once established.
Caring for your Olive Tree
Difficulty level: Easy
Light requirement: Full sun
Watering schedule: Moderate; allow soil to dry between waterings once established
Soil type: Well-draining, sandy or loamy soil
Humidity: Low to moderate
Fertilization: Once every 2–3 months during growing season
Pruning: Light pruning after harvest or in early spring to shape and improve airflow
Pet friendliness: Non-toxic
