Olea europaea (Common olive)

Other names: Green olive, King-of-trees, Manzanillo, Mission, Pickling olive, Queen, Ripe olive, Sevillano, Oleaceae, Olea europeae, Sweet oil plant, Black olive, Lady's oil

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Species

O. europaea is a neatly shaped evergreen tree with a dense spreading crown of glossy grey-green to dark-green foliage and sprays of tiny, lightly scented white to greenish flowers followed by small, fleshy fruits which ripen purple-black.

Season of interest

Flower
	Spring	Summer	Autumn	Winter
Flower
Foliage
	Spring	Summer	Autumn	Winter
Foliage

Height and spread

Metric |
Imperial

Height and spread Metric \| Imperial
Size	Max height	Max spread	To maturity
9 m	12 m	10-20 years
29 ft	39 ft	10-20 years

Height and spread

Metric |
Imperial

Size

Max height

Max spread

To maturity

9 m

12 m

10-20 years

29 ft

39 ft

10-20 years

Where to grow

Soil

Soil type

Chalky
Clay
Loamy
Sandy

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained
Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid
Alkaline
Neutral

Conditions

Sunlight

Partial Shade
Full Sun

Aspect

East
West
South
North

Exposure

Exposed
Sheltered

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Plant details

Additional plant details

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained fertile soil in a sheltered, sunny site. Under glass, grow in loam-based compost with added sharp sand in full light. Feed monthly & water moderately in growth; water sparingly in winter.

Suggested uses

Banks and Slopes, Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Hedging/Screens, Low Maintenance, Woodland, Foliage only

UK hardiness

USDA zones

Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10

Sunset zone

8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Very Low
Central Valley = Very Low
South Coastal = Low
South Inland = Low
High and Intermediate Desert = Low
Low Desert = Low

Foliage

Evergreen

Habit

Rounded

Native to

Mediterranean

Drought tolerant

Flood tolerant

Fragrance

Flowers are scented.

Toxicity

Not toxic

Plant care

Pruning and propagation

Pruning

Pruning group 1.

Propagation methods

Seed, Semi-ripe cuttings

Pests and diseases

Pests

Scale insects

Diseases

Generally disease-free.

Monthly care advice

Plant container grown plants in deep fertile, well-drained soil

Selective pruning only (only if needed)

Plant container grown plants in a sunny sheltered spot

Protect from cold drying winds (in cold areas)

Plant in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soils

Bring tender indoors if container grown (in cold areas)

Apply a fertiliser container grown plants regularly

Take semi-ripe cuttings

Sow seeds in containers with heat (spring)

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (16)

Olea

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Olea europaea (any variety) Olive (any variety)

Olea europaea Common olive

Olea europaea 'Leccino' Olive 'Leccino'

Olea europaea 'Little Ollie' Olive 'Little Ollie'

Olea europaea 'Cipressino' Olive 'Cipressino'

Olea europaea 'Swan Hill' Olive 'Swan Hill'

Olea europaea 'Arbequina' Olive 'Arbequina'

Olea europaea 'Carolea' Olive 'Carolea'

Olea europaea 'Ascolana' Olive 'Ascolana'

Olea europaea 'Frantoio' Olive 'Frantoio'

Olea europaea 'Manzanillo' Olive 'Manzanillo'

Olea europaea 'Amfissa' Olive 'Amfissa'

Olea europaea subsp. europaea var. sylvestris Wild olive

Olea europaea 'Wilsonii' Olive 'Wilsonii'

Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata Wild olive

Olea europaea, ancient form Olive, ancient form

Companion plants (0)

Related content

Discuss this plant

Re: I have a medium sized olive. Stands about 8 feet tall. It is in the wrong place (ground too wet over winters). I need to move it. When is the best time?

Carol

261 0

In the UK the best time to move any tree is the autumn when it is most dormant. 8 feet sounds quite big to me. There must be a video online somewhere of people digging up a tree - biggest rootball you can manage, cloth around it, well-watered before and after etc.

Posted: Sunday 9th of June 2019 10:57 AM

I have a medium sized olive. Stands about 8 feet tall. It is in the wrong place (ground too wet over winters). I need to move it. When is the best time?

Janice Rowlands

261 1

I have a medium sized olive. Stands about 8 feet tall. It is in the wrong place (ground too wet over winters). I need to move it. When is the best time?

Posted: Thursday 6th of June 2019 08:02 AM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 10:02 PM

Re: Re: olive tree

Shoot User

2022 0

Hi Kathy thank you for your reply you are right in assuming it is in a pot, unfortunately it has been left out in the snow I have bought it into our shed now and I am going to try and nurse it back to health!! Fingers crossed!! Bridget.

Posted: Wednesday 19th of January 2011 11:37 AM

Re: olive tree

Julie R

2022 0

I live in north Wiltshire and the same thing happened to my 9 year old olive tree last winter. It was covered in snow and lost all of its leaves but they did come back, for the most part. Another olive in a neighbour's garden lost its leaves, as well.

This winter, I have wrapped the new terra cotta container in 2-3 layers of bubblewrap and covered the tree in one of those green fleece bags. I am still worried about it, however, because it's been covered since December. The bag is a bit of a tight fit since the shape is conical, unlike the shape of the olive. I don't want to continually remove it and put it back on - and though it's been a bit milder lately, the lows are -2 and -3, and it could quickly turn to more snow.

Any suggestions? Should I just remove the fleece?

Posted: Wednesday 19th of January 2011 07:41 AM

Re: olive tree

Kathy N

2022 1

Hi, Bridget,
How cold did it get where you live? Any snow on the plant? Olea europea does not tolerate snow but can tolerate short periods down to -5C as would be expected with a light to medium frost. It won't tolerate hard frosts at all. I am assuming it is in a pot. Is it possible the container froze? Frozen roots will spell disaster. My guess is it just couldn't handle this cold winter.
Kathy C

Posted: Tuesday 18th of January 2011 07:29 PM

olive tree

Shoot User

2022 2

I have had my olive tree outside throughout the winter in a sheltered position and despite the cold weather it has seemed to survive, however I noticed that all the leaves have started dropping off Idon't want to loose this plant does anyone have any helpful tips? thank you Bridget.

Posted: Saturday 15th of January 2011 10:51 AM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 03:03 PM