Olive Tree
Olea europaea
📖 About this plant
The Olive Tree is an ancient symbol of peace, wisdom, and longevity. With its gnarled, silvery-gray trunk, narrow gray-green leaves with silvery undersides, and aromatic white-cream blossoms, it brings Mediterranean charm to any space. Some living olive trees are estimated to be over 2,000 years old. Indoors, it may not produce significant fruit but is treasured for its elegant, sculptural beauty.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Full sun (6-8 hrs)
Every 1-2 weeks
Low (20-40%)
10-30°C
Well-draining, gritty, alkaline to neutral potting mix (pH 7.0-8.0); blend of loam, sand, perlite, and crushed limestone or oyster shell
Balanced liquid fertilizer or citrus/olive-specific feed monthly during spring and summer; avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers that promote excessive vegetative growth over fruiting
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Mediterranean Basin — native to coastal regions of southern Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa; cultivated for over 6,000 years
- 📏 Max height
- 120-250 cm (4-8 ft indoors in containers; up to 10-15 m outdoors in Mediterranean climates)
- 📐 Spread
- 90-150 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Spring - Summer
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White, Cream
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Silver-Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Slow
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic to humans; mildly toxic to pets — olive leaves and stems can cause GI upset and vomiting in dogs and cats if ingested in large amounts; olives themselves are safe
- 🌱 Propagation
- Semi-hardwood cuttings (15-20 cm) with rooting hormone in late summer; seeds (slow and unreliable); grafting for commercial varieties
🛡️ Health & Safety
Non-toxic to humans; mildly toxic to pets — olive leaves and stems can cause GI upset and vomiting in dogs and cats if ingested in large amounts; olives themselves are safe
Common issues
- Leaf drop from sudden temperature changes or drafts, Scale insects on stems and leaf undersides, Yellowing leaves from overwatering or poor drainage, Powdery mildew in humid conditions with poor airflow, Spider mites in hot dry air, Leggy growth from insufficient light
💡 Care tips
- Silvery gray-green leaves on a gnarled trunk create Mediterranean style,Drought-tolerant once established and prefers to dry between waterings,Bring indoors before frost if grown in containers outdoors,Needs a cool winter period with temperatures around 5-10°C
