Olea europaea

Olea europaea is the classic olive tree, an evergreen with narrow grey-green leaves that lend a distinctive silvery look year round. It is slow growing and best planted in a warm, sunny, very well-drained spot with neutral to alkaline soil. In Ireland it benefits from a sheltered south- or west-facing position, ideally out of cold winds. Small creamy-white flowers appear in early summer; any fruiting is weather dependent. Once established it tolerates dry conditions and is well suited to Mediterranean-style and coastal gardens. Ultimately a small to medium tree over time in mild, sheltered sites.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Full sun

Rate of Growth: Slow

Soil: Well-drained; moderately fertile; light sandy or chalky

Hardiness: Generally hardy (RHS H4); shelter from severe frost

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Plant at a Glance