Characteristics and care of the Olive Tree

The olive tree is an impressive fruit tree. It does not have flowers as showy as those of the flamboyant tree or the jacaranda , but its size and its resistance to drought make it one of the most cultivated tree plants in regions where rainfall is low.

It can provide very good shade as long as it is pruned regularly, and it is a species that the whole family can really enjoy.

Index

Characteristics of the olive tree

The olive tree, whose scientific name is Olea europaea , is an evergreen tree (that is, it remains evergreen) native to the Mediterranean region. It can reach a height of 15 meters , but normally it is not allowed to grow more than 4-5 meters to make it easier to harvest the olives, which are succulent drupes up to 3.5cm long, somewhat globose and green in color.

Its crown is wide, with lanceolate leaves with a pointed apex, coriaceous, glabrous on the upper side and paler on the underside. The flowers are hermaphrodite, white. The trunk is thick and often twisted. Its roots are not invasive.

How is it taken care of?

If you want to have a specimen or several in your garden, take note of our advice:

  • Location : outside, in full sun.
  • Soil or substrate : it must have good drainage, especially if it is in a pot. In the garden, the soil must be calcareous.
  • Irrigation : every 3-4 days in summer, and every 4-6 days the rest of the year. It resists drought and punctual torrential rains.
  • Fertilizer : throughout the growing season (spring and summer), it should be fertilized with organic fertilizers, spreading a 4-5cm thick layer around the plant once a month.
  • Transplantation/Planting time : in spring.
  • Pruning : in late winter, when the risk of frost has passed.
  • Harvest : late summer.
  • Multiplication : by seeds in spring, and by cuttings in autumn or spring.
  • Rusticity : resistant to -10ºC.
Characteristics and care of the Olive Tree

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