50% OFF! Hot items selling fast—Grab them before they're gone!
Unconditional Satisfaction GuaranteeNo Shipping Fees Above 302 Months to Decide. Returns Simplified.Olea europaea, the common olive tree, is an evergreen Mediterranean native revered for thousands of years for its graceful appearance, aromatic grey-green foliage, and of course its edible olives. It is a slow-growing, long-lived tree that can thrive for centuries under the right conditions.
Appearance:
Foliage: Small, narrow, leathery leaves are silvery-grey to grey-green on top, with a soft, silvery underside. They provide a distinctive shimmering effect in sunlight.
Form: Naturally forms a gnarled, characterful trunk and dense, rounded crown with age. When young, it may be pruned into standard, multi-stemmed or topiary shapes.
Flowers & Fruit: Tiny, fragrant white flowers appear in summer, followed by green fruits that ripen to purple-black olives. Fruiting in the UK is inconsistent and more ornamental than productive.
Overall character: Evokes a classic Mediterranean feel, perfect for courtyard gardens, patios or sunny borders.
Full sun: Absolutely essential. Needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily to stay healthy and to encourage flowering and fruiting.
Ideally placed against a south or west-facing wall which reflects heat and provides shelter.
Hardy down to about -7C, so perfectly fine through most UK winters in sheltered spots.
In colder regions or prolonged frosts, wrap the pot or fleece the crown to protect young growth.
Drought tolerant once established, but best to water regularly during dry spells, especially for potted olives.
Allow the top few centimetres of soil to dry between watering. Avoid overwatering or letting roots sit in soggy soil.
Needs well-drained soil. Poor, stony or sandy soils suit olives well, but heavy clay is best improved with grit.
In pots, use a John Innes No.3 loam-based compost mixed with horticultural grit or perlite.
Feed in spring with a balanced fertiliser. A slow-release Mediterranean or citrus fertiliser also works well.
Avoid high-nitrogen feeds that encourage too much leafy growth at the expense of flowers.
Lightly prune in late spring to shape and maintain an open structure, allowing air and light into the canopy.
Remove any dead, damaged or crossing branches. For a bushier look, pinch out tips of young shoots.
UK conditions often produce flowers but reliable fruiting is less common without long, hot summers and a second pollinating tree.
Olives are mainly grown here for their ornamental value.
Generally pest-free. Occasionally aphids or scale may appear on soft shoots; treat with horticultural soap.
Yellowing leaves often indicate overwatering or poor drainage.
Excellent in large terracotta or wooden pots. Always ensure good drainage holes.
Raise pots slightly off the ground on pot feet to prevent waterlogging.
Repot every 34 years into fresh compost.
