Olea europaea C375

Olea europaea is the classic evergreen olive, grown for its elegant, silvery-green foliage and naturally architectural character. In Ireland it does best in a warm, very sunny, sheltered spot with excellent drainage. Small, creamy-white flowers are produced in late spring to early summer, sometimes followed by fruits in long, warm seasons; outdoor cropping is not guaranteed. Olives are slow-growing and respond well to light pruning to maintain shape. Avoid waterlogged soils and prolonged winter wet; once established, plants are tolerant of summer drought and suit free-draining, neutral to alkaline ground, including sandy or chalky soils.

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; warm, sheltered site

Rate of Growth: Slow

Soil: Very well-drained; neutral to alkaline; light, sandy or chalky; avoid waterlogging

Hardiness: Hardy to around -10°C with excellent drainage; protect from severe cold winds

Plant at a Glance