Olive tree
Olea europaea
Botanical family: Oleaceae
Olea europaea, grown for millennia around the Mediterranean, produces the olive, the fruit at the base of olive oil and many traditional preparations (table olives). An ancient symbol of peace and prosperity, it remains today a safe bet for dry gardens and water-thrifty Mediterranean orchards.
Full sun
Chalky, dry, well-drained, tolerates poor and stony soils
Low once established, withstands summer drought well
Hardy in a Mediterranean climate (withstands -10 to -15 °C depending on variety), sensitive to late frosts
Overwinters in your zone
Wind-pollinated; it very rarely fertilises itself: plant two compatible varieties
Needs two varieties that pollinate each other (unless self-fertile)
Role in permaculture
An emblematic tree of the Mediterranean basin, remarkable for its longevity (several centuries, sometimes more than a millennium) and its hardiness on poor, dry soils. Its flowering is discreet, in late spring, and its light shade allows understorey combinations with Mediterranean aromatic plants undemanding for water.
Good companions
Attract pollinators and beneficial insects
Insects attracted or useful
Known pests & diseases
Pests and diseases that commonly affect this plant, tap to learn how to recognise and manage them.
Seasons & availability
The olive is increased by cuttings or grafting; it flowers in late spring and its fruit is picked from autumn into the heart of winter, green then black according to ripeness, before being kept in oil or cured in brine. In an oceanic climate it rarely sets fruit, and only after a hot summer.
Available: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Guidance for the oceanic / temperate climate; it may vary with your region, altitude, exposure and growing method.
Sources
- Tela Botanica, « Olea europaea L. » (tela-botanica.org/bdtfx-nn-44593-description)
- Ministère de l'Agriculture, cahier des charges de l'AOP « Olive de Nîmes » (info.agriculture.gouv.fr/boagri/document_administratif-31f62337-294f-4c33-ab4d-3115a26af2cf/telechargement)
- Ministère de l'Agriculture, cahier des charges de l'AOP « Olive de Nice » (info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-41f32a74-4491-4034-a352-eb0a9979554c/telechargement)
- RHS, « How to Grow Olives » (rhs.org.uk/fruit/olives/grow-your-own)
- Plants For A Future, « Olea europaea » (pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Olea+europaea)
Nutritional & medicinal properties
For educational purposes. Not a substitute for medical advice. Effects depend on the form, the dose and personal context.
Precautions & contraindications
The fresh olive is inedible as it is: very bitter because of oleuropein, it must be de-bittered (brine, traditional lye, or maceration) before eating. Table olives prepared in brine are salty, to be eaten with moderation, notably in case of a low-salt diet. Olive pollen is moreover a known allergen of the Mediterranean basin.
In the kitchen & the apothecary
Where to find olive tree in preparations: recipes and traditional herbal teas.
Species & varieties
The best-known species and varieties in France.
Common varieties
Voices of peoples
Paraphrases attributed to their documented sources. Never an invented quote.
Ancient Athens (classical Greece) · Attica, 5th century BC
According to the myth reported by Herodotus then by Apollodorus, Athena and Poseidon disputed the sovereignty of Athens. Poseidon made a spring of salt water gush from his trident. Athena grew the first olive tree. The Athenians chose the olive tree, not for its power, but for what it offers: oil for light, fruit for food, shade for rest, wood for tools, peace for men. The olive branch has remained, ever since, the universal symbol of peace.
Hérodote, Histoires, livre VIII ; Apollodore, Bibliothèque, III, 14, 1 (mythe d'Athènes) ; Pline l'Ancien, Naturalis Historia, livre XV (usages anciens de l'olivier).
Key takeaways
- • Prefers full sun exposure.
- • Ideal soil: chalky, dry, well-drained, tolerates poor and stony soils.
- • Classic companion: Lavender.