OLEA europaea Stem 20-30cm Crown20-30cm (Olive)

Olea europaea is an evergreen, slow-growing tree prized for its distinctive Mediterranean character and narrow, grey-green foliage that provides year-round structure. For Irish gardens it performs best in full sun with excellent drainage, in a warm, sheltered position (such as a south- or west-facing spot). It can be grown in containers or in the ground where soils are well drained, and is tolerant of drought once established. Panicles of small, creamy-white flowers typically appear in late spring to early summer; outdoor fruiting is not guaranteed in our climate.

This is a standard tree with a clear stem and a shaped crown above. The tree was grown up to this stem height and then pruned to stop the trunk growing taller. The clear stem will remain at the height you receive it at, with future growth coming from the top of the tree.

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: Well-drained; poor to moderately fertile; chalk or sandy soils preferred; avoid waterlogging

Hardiness: Hardy in mild areas; protect from severe frost and cold winds

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Plant at a Glance