Olives are among the oldest cultivated trees in the world and have been cultivated for more than 7,000 years. Native to the Mediterranean region, they have beautiful, silvery leaves and elegant, willow-like stems. Small, white flowers bloom from late winter to early spring, with fruit ripening on mature trees in the fall. Young olive trees have smooth, gray bark, while the bark develops interesting furrows as the plant ages.
Olive trees love hot, dry summers and mild winters, so they can be planted outdoors in some parts of the Southeast, including Alabama, northern Florida, central Georgia, and central and southern Texas. But they don't like extreme heat and humidity and require 200 to 300 chilling hours in winter temperatures below 45 degrees to bear fruit. Because of these challenges, they are often easier to grow as houseplants or container plants that can be brought indoors during the winter.
If you live in a place where olive trees can be planted in the ground and you want to grow them as a fruit crop, you only need one tree as it is self-fertile. But as with most fruit trees, planting a different variety nearby can increase production. Indoors, trees do not bear fruit, but are still striking houseplants, especially in the conservatory, kitchen or living room.
Plant attributes
| Common name: | olive |
| Botanical name: | European oils |
| Family: | Oleaceae |
| Plant type | Tree |
| Mature size: | 20 to 30 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide in the ground; 4 to 6 feet in containers |
| Sun exposure: | Full sun |
| Soil type: | Well drained, sandy |
| Soil pH: | Slightly acidic to alkaline |
| Flowering time: | Early to late spring |
| Flower color: | Whitish-green |
| Zones: | 8 to 10 |
| Toxic to Pets: | NO |
Olive tree care
In hot, dry climates, olive trees can be planted outdoors. However, in much of the rest of the Southeast, they grow best in containers as houseplants or patio plants that stay outside in the summer and come indoors in the winter.
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Light
Olive trees need full sun, which is considered 6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day. They grow well indoors in a bright south or east window or under a grow light. Do not keep them in a north-facing window, otherwise there will not be enough light.
Floor
Olive trees grow best in well-drained, sandy soil that is slightly acidic to alkaline. However, they also thrive in containers with average potting soil or a potting mix with a coarser consistency, such as cactus mix.
Water
Water regularly after planting. But once established, olive trees require little to no water. When growing in containers, allow the soil to dry out a few inches before watering. Insert a stick into the soil to check the moisture level. If it is covered with soil, wait and test again in a few days. Olive trees tend to stay dry, but they should not be allowed to dry out completely in containers.
humidity
Outdoors, olive trees can struggle in very humid areas because they are native to hot, dry climates. However, they are ideal for the interior of our homes, where the humidity tends to be lower, especially in winter.
fertilizer
Outdoors, you can apply compost around your tree once a year, but avoid using fertilizer as most olives grow best in poor soil. Too much nitrogen causes them to produce foliage but no fruit. Indoors, use a balanced houseplant fertilizer about once a month or a slow-release fertilizer once or twice a year.
Common Pests and Problems
Olive trees are relatively pest-free and problem-free. Occasionally they can be attacked by scale insects, but as a rule they only show a few diseases.
Types of Olive Trees
Varieties such as 'Arbequina' and 'Manzanilla' are cold tolerant and therefore can be planted outdoors in warm climates. Fruitless varieties like “Little Ollie” are a good choice if you are growing an olive tree for ornamental purposes only.
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How to prune your olive tree
As slow-growing trees, they only need pruning to maintain their shape. Prune branches that are too limp to maintain their shape and height. If you want to grow fruit, don't prune the trees until they are about four years old. Then prune the inner branches to create an open-centered tree and promote good fruit production. Houseplants can be shaped as needed.
Are olive trees poisonous to pets?
Olive trees are considered non-toxic. “Unripe fruit is quite bitter and astringent and can cause stomach upset, but is not considered poisonous,” says Tina Wismer, DVM, senior director of toxicology for ASPCA Poison Control. “Extracts made from the leaves can cause low blood pressure, but this is not a problem when handling the plant material.”