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OLIVES(Olea europea - native to the Mediterranean region)

  • The family Oleacea encompasses about 900 species of trees and shrubs with opposite leaves and flower parts that are usually in fours.Members include privet (Ligustrum), olive (Olea), and lilac (Syringa).
  • The olive is one of only three good-looking big trees Californians can grow without water, the others being Eucalyptus and Oaks.
  • Willowlike foliage is a soft gray green that goes well with most other colors. Smooth gray trunks become gnarled with age.
  • Trees grow slowly to 20-25'. Olives look best grown in deep, rich soil but will grow in shallow, alkaline soil with litlle fertilizer.
  • They thrive in areas with hot, dry summers but also permorm well in coastal climates. Hardy to 15*. Will stand heavy pruning.
Species Fruit Foliage Growth Habit Oil Comments Price Available
Ascolana Large, small pit
Bonita Tiny, like privet
Coratina
Frantoio Purple black when mature, medium size, oval Rich in oil (17-22%); very fruity, aromatic, high quality
Leccino Purple black Good content (16-21%); mildly fruity, delicate
Little Ollie Almost no fruit Very dark green Big dense shrub to 12' Excellent hedge or screen
Majestic Beauty Almost no fruit Airy and fluffy 20-25' Excellent hedge or screen
Manzanillo Apple shaped fruit More spreading than most Commercial grove variety most available
Mission Taller than Manzanillo Commercial grove variety
Pendolino Black Delicate (22-23%) Commercial grove variety
Servillano Oak-like form
Skylark Dwarf Small fruit in some years Large, compact shrub to 16' Typically multi-trunked; introduced 1969
Swan Hill Bears no fruit Deep green 30' Little or no pollen; introduced from Swan Hill, Australia in 1972
Wilsoni Almost no fruit 20-25' Discovered in a grove of Manzanillo; introduced 1979
(Varieties not currently available)