Olive Tree

Olea europaea,European Olive, Common Olive

The Olive Tree is an ancient, slow-growing, evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean Basin. It is famous for its slender, silver-green leaves, gnarled bark, and its ability to produce olives. While it is often grown outdoors, it can be cultivated indoors as a decorative, bright-light houseplant or bonsai. Indoors, it rarely reaches fruit-bearing maturity, but it is prized for its elegant, silvery foliage and drought tolerance. Popular cultivated varieties include 'Arbequina', 'Picual', and 'Little Ollie' (dwarf).

Care Guide

LIGHT

  • Requires maximum direct sunlight to survive and thrive indoors. Needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sun per day.
  • A South or West-facing window is essential.
  • Insufficient light will cause rapid leaf drop, weak growth, and susceptibility to pests.

WATER

  • Drought-tolerant and prefers the soil to dry out between waterings.
  • Allow the top two-thirds of the soil to dry out completely before watering thoroughly.
  • Overwatering is the fastest way to kill an Olive Tree indoors, causing root rot and branch dieback.
  • Reduce watering significantly in the winter dormancy period.

SOIL

  • Needs an extremely fast-draining, gritty, and lean soil mix.
  • Use a mix formulated for cacti and succulents, often containing perlite, pumice, and coarse sand, to ensure zero water retention.

GROWTH HABIT

  • Ideal conditions: Full sun, dry air, moderate temperatures (65-75F) in summer, and a cooler rest period in winter.
  • Growth rate & size: Growth rate is slow to moderate. It grows as a woody, upright tree, easily shaped by pruning, typically 3-6 feet tall indoors.

PROPAGATING

  • Propagated by semi-hardwood cuttings taken in late spring/early summer.
  • Dip the cut end in rooting hormone and place in a gritty, moist mix in a warm, humid environment (use a humidity dome).
  • Cuttings can be slow and difficult for hobbyists.

PRUNING

  • Pruning is essential for shaping and maintaining size. Prune heavily in the late winter or early spring before new growth begins.
  • Pinch the tips of new growth throughout the season to encourage a denser canopy.
  • Remove any dead, crossing, or weak branches.

REPOTTING

  • Repot when the plant is root-bound, typically every 3-5 years due to its slow growth.
  • Repot in the early spring.
  • Use a pot only slightly larger, and refresh the gritty soil mix.

FERTILIZING

  • Feed lightly and infrequently during the spring and summer growing season (once a month).
  • Use a balanced, diluted liquid fertilizer.
  • Do not fertilize in fall and winter. Olive Trees prefer a lean soil.

FLOWERING

  • Produces small, creamy-white, fragrant flowers in the spring.
  • Flowering is rare indoors as it requires a period of cool dormancy (around 40-50F) in winter to set flower buds.

TOXICITY

  • Olive Trees are generally considered non-toxic to humans and pets.

PRO TIPS

  • Olive Trees are best grown outdoors during the summer months when all danger of frost is past.
  • Leaf drop is normal when the light conditions change, or if it is overwatered.
  • Mist occasionally to discourage spider mites, but ensure good air circulation to prevent fungus.

Variability in Care

Most varieties of this plant follow the standard care above, but some require adjustments.

Fruiting Varieties

Examples: 'Arbequina', 'Picual'

  • Are often self-pollinating but require the cool winter dormancy to set flower buds and potentially fruit indoors.
  • Need the highest possible light and slightly heavier feeding when trying to produce fruit.

Dwarf Cultivars

Examples: 'Little Ollie', 'Frantoio'

  • Bred to remain smaller and more compact, making them better suited for container culture.
  • Growth is slower, and they are popular for bonsai.
  • Can tolerate slightly less sun than the large fruiting varieties, but still require very bright light.

Ornamental/Non-Fruiting Varieties

  • These varieties are easier to maintain indoors as they do not require the cold dormancy necessary for fruiting, but they still need high light.
  • Pruning is less about managing fruit and more about maintaining shape.

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