Olea europaea (Olive) on Stem

Olea europaea

P30 nursery container • Standard form • Supplied approximately 180cm tall

Plant Highlights: Elegant standard tree • Silvery-green evergreen foliage • Architectural year-round interest • Ideal for patios and entrances • Slow-growing and easy to maintain

Overview

Olea europaea, the European Olive, is a timeless Mediterranean tree trained here as an elegant standard with a clear stem supporting a neatly rounded crown. Its narrow, silvery-green evergreen leaves provide year-round structure and subtle colour, making it an outstanding specimen for patios, terraces, courtyards and formal entrances.

Naturally slow growing and highly responsive to pruning, this standard olive retains its refined shape with minimal maintenance. While well suited to Irish gardens, it performs best in a warm, sheltered position with excellent drainage, where its distinctive form and evergreen foliage can be enjoyed throughout the seasons.

Why We Love It

• Elegant standard form creates an instant architectural focal point.
• Attractive silvery-green evergreen foliage provides year-round interest.
• Slow-growing habit makes it easy to maintain.
• Ideal for large containers, sunny patios and sheltered courtyards.
• Brings classic Mediterranean character to contemporary and traditional gardens alike.

Plant Details

Growing Guide

Position

Plant in a warm, sheltered position with full sun. A south- or west-facing location protected from cold winds will encourage healthy growth and help the tree thrive.

Watering

Water thoroughly when the upper layer of compost or soil begins to dry, allowing excess water to drain away freely. Container-grown olives require more frequent watering during warm or windy weather but should never remain in waterlogged compost.

Soil

Grow in fertile, sharply drained soil. For container planting, use a high-quality free-draining compost with added grit or horticultural sand to improve drainage.

Hardiness and Winter Care

Olive trees are best suited to sheltered positions in Ireland. Protect container-grown specimens during prolonged periods of severe frost and ensure excess winter rain drains away freely, as prolonged waterlogging is more damaging than cold.

Routine Care

Lightly trim the crown in late spring or summer to maintain its rounded standard shape. Remove dead, damaged or crossing branches, together with any shoots that emerge from the clear stem or below the graft.

Perfect For

• Sunny patios and terraces.
• Framing front doors and entrances.
• Courtyards and Mediterranean-style gardens.
• Large decorative containers.
• Architectural planting in sheltered locations.

Good to Know

The supplied height of approximately 180cm refers to the plant at the time of sale, not its eventual size. Olive trees can live for many decades and remain compact when regularly pruned, making them excellent long-term specimen plants for containers or sheltered gardens.

Product Information

• Botanical name: Olea europaea
• Trained as a standard with a clear stem and rounded crown.
• Supplied in a P30 nursery container.
• Supplied approximately 180cm tall.
• Pot size and supplied height refer to the plant at the time of sale and not its eventual maintained size.