Ancient Olive Trees

Ancient olive trees are appreciated for their beauty and appealing silvery-green leaves, making them popular ornamental plants. However, although these trees may continue to produce significant amounts of fruit after having existed for hundreds of years, they are increasingly sought after as status symbols and for the beauty of their twisted and gnarled trunks and branches.

When placed on either side of a driveway, doorway, or loggia, these trees instantly give a space a sense of solidity and historical significance. Both homeowners and landscape architects use these trees in garden designs to provide shade, seclusion, and noise reduction benefits—complementing many different types of design, from antique Tuscan architecture to stark contemporary minimalism and beyond.

  • Fruiting and Fruitless
  • Bloom (Summer or Spring)
  • Slow Growth
  • Color (Gray-to-Dark Green)
  • Olive Oil (Varies)
  • Landscape Use
  • Care and Maintenance

Care and Maintenance

Ancient olive trees are exceedingly versatile and thrive in ordinary, slightly alkaline, well-drained soils. Water deeply and frequently during the first few growing seasons to help the plant build a strong root system. Once established, reduce the frequency of watering; the tree is drought-tolerant. However, protect young plants (or freshly transplanted ancient trees) from extreme winter weather.

Quick Facts

Origin Mediterranean, Africa, and Asia
Scientific Name Olea Europaea
Family Oleaceae
Tree Type Fruiting and Fruitless
Common Names The Olive Tree, Ancient Olive, Olea Europaea
Height (Insert)
Toxicity Non Toxic
Light Full Sun
Watering Drought-Tolerant
Soil Well-Drained-Nutrient Poor Soil
Hardiness Hardy Down 20 to 30 °F
Foliage Gray-to-Dark Green
Growth Slow
Olive Oil Depend Upon Desired Cultivar

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