Olive Trees for the Landscape

Easy to grow, these sun loving, low maintenance, very pliable trees with willow-like, evergreen leaves are tolerant of neglect. Their growth rate depends partly on the care they receive. Ones that are watered during dry weather can reach 12 feet in height around four years of age.

As landscape trees, they reach their best growth in a deep rich soil. The plant is tolerant of alkaline pH and shallow soils. Neglected trees will grow rather slowly. There are probably well over 500 million olive trees worldwide.

Although the hardiness can vary slightly according to the variety, most mature olive trees are hardy to around 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Young trees sometimes suffer harm when temperatures fall to 24 degrees. Extremely cold temperatures can cause defoliation, but doesnt necessarily kill the tree although the plant is more likely to suffer disease problems than it normally would.

Where Grown Most of the olives produced worldwide are grown in the Mediterranean region. The trees are grown in various regions of the globe, such as South Africa, the northwestern Himalayans, China, Latin America, North America, the Middle East, and North Africa. Olives are an important crop in Australia and are often planted as windbreaks. They also thrive New Zealand.

In the U.S., olive trees are widely grown in California and southern Arizona. Theyre also cultivated in Hawaii, the Maritime Northwest, in the Southeast from North Carolina to Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oregon, and Texas.

Olive Trees for Landscape Use

If olives are being grown for their fruits, the best spot of all would be near the ocean for they are so much more productive (perhaps 20 times) than trees that are planted inland. Tough, extremely challenging conditions actually cause the trees to produce better quality olive oil.

Olive trees have ornamental value. Theyre sometimes used as specimen trees. Generally, it is best to avoid planting fruiting varieties close to walkways, driveways, patios, and other areas where people are likely to walk. The oily fruits can be very messy and create hazards underfoot.

For landscape purposes, the special non-fruiting varieties are very suitable for ornamental use, particularly for topiary and hedges. The non-fruiting types can sometimes bear a few olives if cross pollination is provided.

Be aware that some communities in the Southwest have banned pollen-bearing varieties. The trees are notorious for causing extreme allergies for some people. Varieties that are permitted in such areas include Bonita and Swan Hill.

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Olive Trees for the Landscape