How to Grow Olea europaea Plants

Gardener's HQ Guide Grow Olives in your Garden

Some people love them, some people hate them, but there is one thing for certain the olive plant (Olea europaea) is certainly a good looking plant.

It naturally grows in calcium rich soils in regions with hot weather, and its native range is from the Mediterranean regions through to China

They are typically small to medium sized trees. Their leaves are leathery, narrow, simple, and opposite.

Common Olive

photograph by N i c o l a, CC.

Although their flowers are small and carried on panicles, it is the olive fruit for which this plant is mainly grown.

There are many uses for the leaves too, which are often used for flavouring culinary dishes and are a rich source of phenolics. Indeed the leaves have been used in many traditional medicines.

Trunks are irregularly shaped and a very attractive grey.

The wood from the olive tree is also treasured as it is hard, durable, and very difficult to burn.

As the trees are very slow growing, and live for a very long time (some over 2,000 years old), it is the repeated harvests of the olive fruits that are the most economical viable. This can make it quite difficult to get hold Olive wood unless you are prepared to pay a premium price over quicker growing woods.

Olive tree branch

photograph by Forest and Kim Starr; CC.

Fruits are rich in oil, and it is estimated that about 90% of all oils are processed into olive oil.

There are three main types of eating (table) olives: Green; Black; and Semi-ripe/turning.

Green olives are picked before ripening occurs whilst black ones are harvested once the olive fruit is fully mature and at maximum ripeness. All olives are then cured by fermentation to remove their bitterness.

Many people will know the symbolism of offering an olive branch to someone as a way of ending a disagreement; and the olive tree is strongly associated with peace.

Invasive species in South Australia, where its growth contributes to fire risks

Quick Growing and Care Guide

Scientific Name: Olea europaea
Common Name (s): Olive, Common Olive, Cultivated Olive, European Olive
Growing Zone (USA / UK Hardiness): 8 to 10 / H4

Plant Details

Life Cycle / Plant Type: Evergreen
Plant Height: 14 to 30 feet (4.5 to 9 m)
Plant Spread: 5 to 25 feet (1.5 to 7.5 m)
Blooms: Early to mid summer
Flower Details: White. Fragrant. Small. Axillary panicles.
Fruit: Green to black depending on maturity. Olive shaped (ovoid oblong).
Leaf Foliages: Narrow. Simple, opposite. Elliptic to lance shape. Colour: Above: Grey-Green; Beneath Silver-Green.

Growing Conditions

Best Light and Aspect Conditions: Full sun. Plant South/West facing against a warm wall in cooler areas
Suitable Soil Types: Calcium rich,
Suitable Soil pH: Alkaline soils 7.1 to 8.
Soil Soil Moisture: Medium, but drought tolerant once established.
Sowing, planting, and Propagation: Seeds do not stay true so best cultivated from cuttings or layers. Sow seeds in spring at 55 to 60°F (13 to 15°C). Plant saplings in spring. Take semi-ripe cuttings in Summer. Take hardwood cuttings in winter.
Care: Pinch young plants to encourage branching. Remove the weakest branches and keep four or five of the strongest branches once they have established (about 5 feet (1.6 m). Light pruning in late spring to remove decayed/dying/dead branches and to tidy up. Prune container grown plants more aggressively to keep in check. NB. pruning generally results in poorer olive harvests. Olive plants will probably not bear fruit if not growing in non-Mediterranean like climates. Regularly water and feed container grown plants. Minimum of four years before bearing fruit.

Further Information

Best used for: Slopes, Crags, Courtyards, City garden, large containers in cooler areas (bring indoors for the winter.)
Family: Oleaceae.
Closely Related Species: Ash, Jasmine, lilac, and privet.
Miscellaneous: Drought tolerant. Takes at least 20 years to make full height, trees are long lived - some are estimated to be over 2000 years old.
Further Reading and References used for this Olea europaea growing guide: RHS; Wikipedia

I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Olea europaea plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow Jacaranda mimosifolia, Cyperus plant, and Tree of Heaven plants.