Olea Europaea 150cm Pot 175cm Height Outdoor Tree

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.

---

🌱 Detailed Care Guide for Olea europaea

📍 Position & Light

• 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.

🌡️ Temperature & Hardiness

• Hardy down to about -7°C, 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.

💧 Watering

• 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.

🪴 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.

🍽️ Feeding

• 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.

✂️ Pruning & Maintenance

• 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.

🌸 Flowers & Fruiting

• 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.

🪲 Pests & Problems

• Generally pest-free. Occasionally aphids or scale may appear on soft shoots; treat with horticultural soap.

• Yellowing leaves often indicate overwatering or poor drainage.

🚰 Container Growing

• 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 3–4 years into fresh compost.