Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Olea europaea (Common olive)
1 hour care
per year
per year
9m
Max height
Max height
12m
Max spread
Max spread
10-20 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Olea europaea
Other names
Green olive, King-of-trees, Manzanillo, Mission, Pickling olive, Queen, Ripe olive, Sevillano, Oleaceae, Olea europeae, Common olive, Sweet oil plant, Black olive, Lady's oil
Genus
Olea Olea
Species
O. europaea - O. europaea is a neatly shaped evergreen tree with a dense spreading crown of glossy grey-green to dark-green foliage and sprays of tiny, lightly scented white to greenish flowers followed by small, fleshy fruits which ripen purple-black.
Olea europaea is: Evergreen
Fragrance
Flowers are scented.
Habit
Rounded
Flower
White, Insignificant or absent in Spring
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Specific pests
Scale insects Scale insects
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 1.
Propagation methods
Seed, Semi-ripe cuttings
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Olea europaea (Common olive) will reach a height of 9m and a spread of 12m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Banks and Slopes, Cottage/Informal, Beds and borders, Hedging/Screens, Low Maintenance, Woodland, Foliage only
Cultivation
Grow in well-drained fertile soil in a sheltered, sunny site. Under glass, grow in loam-based compost with added sharp sand in full light. Feed monthly & water moderately in growth; water sparingly in winter.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Well-drained, Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
Botanical name
Olea europaea
Other names
Green olive, King-of-trees, Manzanillo, Mission, Pickling olive, Queen, Ripe olive, Sevillano, Oleaceae, Olea europeae, Common olive, Sweet oil plant, Black olive, Lady's oil
Genus
Olea Olea
Species
O. europaea - O. europaea is a neatly shaped evergreen tree with a dense spreading crown of glossy grey-green to dark-green foliage and sprays of tiny, lightly scented white to greenish flowers followed by small, fleshy fruits which ripen purple-black.
Foliage
Evergreen
Fragrance
Flowers are scented.
Habit
Rounded
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
White, Insignificant or absent in Spring
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Specific pests
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 1.
Propagation methods
Seed, Semi-ripe cuttings
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Olea europaea (Common olive) will reach a height of 9m and a spread of 12m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Banks and Slopes, Cottage/Informal, Beds and borders, Hedging/Screens, Low Maintenance, Woodland, Foliage only
Cultivation
Grow in well-drained fertile soil in a sheltered, sunny site. Under glass, grow in loam-based compost with added sharp sand in full light. Feed monthly & water moderately in growth; water sparingly in winter.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Well-drained, Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 10, Zone 9, Zone 8
Defra's Risk register #1
Plant name
Olea europaea (Common olive)
Common pest name
Japanese swift moth
Scientific pest name
Endoclita excrescens
Type
Insect
Current status in UK
Absent
Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
2
Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
4
General biosecurity comments
Polyphagous moth pest whose larvae feed off a range of herbaceous and woody hosts. Native to East Asia where substantial impacts have been observed; and current import requirements do not fully mitigate the risk of introduction. A PRA will help to assess the level of risk more fully.
Defra's Risk register #2
Plant name
Olea europaea (Common olive)
Common pest name
pink wax scale; red was scale; ruby wax scale
Scientific pest name
Ceroplastes rubens
Type
Insect
Current status in UK
Absent
Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
3
Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
3
General biosecurity comments
Based on its biology and low potential impact continued action on this pest in the UK would not be considered appropriate. It is likely to be of more concern to southern Member States of the EU; as it is an economic pest of citrus.
Defra's Risk register #3
Plant name
Olea europaea (Common olive)
Common pest name
False codling moth
Scientific pest name
Thaumatotibia leucotreta
Type
Insect
Current status in UK
Absent
Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
2
Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
3
General biosecurity comments
Polyphagous pest; detected mainly on citrus and peppers. EU regulation under consideration following recurrent interceptions.
About this section
Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.
Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here
Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.
Date updated: 7th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
june 2011 - 2 (25/07/2011)
(26/06/2013)
Wild Olive (15/02/2012)
25 july 2011 (25/07/2011)
june 2011 (25/07/2011)
16 June 2011. Ready to flower. (17/06/2011)
1 july 2011 (25/07/2011)
10 July 2012 (10/07/2012)
june 2011 - 3 (25/07/2011)
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained, Moist but well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
COMPANION PLANTS
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
By Surrey based garden designer Karen Holley. A busy professional couple wanted a sunny Mediterranean garden in their south facing property, with easy access to the gym at the end of the garden for… read more
By Oxfordshire based garden designer Richard Rogers.This south facing garden on the Buckinghamshire / Oxfordshire border blends contemporary design elements with traditional materials and clever… read more
Designed by Manoj Malde. The owner bought this penthouse with the prospect of creating a roof garden. The space was a blank canvas. read more
By Chichester based garden designer David Loy of Your Garden Design. The garden design is modern and contemporary, consistent with the style of the house and utilising materials sympathetic to both… read more
Shoot member Simon is building a garden oasis in Turkey. The garden is still being developed and Simon turned to Shoot to help plan out the space using our newly improved garden planner software. read more
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login
DISCUSS THIS PLANT
I have a medium sized olive. Stands about 8 feet tall. It is in the wrong place (ground too wet over winters). I need to move it. When is the best time?
olive tree
Olea europaea
Olive tree care
There are 3 active discussions about Olea europaea (Common olive)
View all discussions