Olive tree (Olea europaea)
Care, watering, light and tips for Olive tree on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Oleaceae
- Difficulty: Moderate care
- Watering: every 14 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
About Olive tree
The Olive Tree (Olea europaea) is an iconic evergreen tree, cherished for its rustic beauty and its fruits. It features a gnarled trunk and silvery-green foliage, creating a Mediterranean focal point in gardens, patios, or even as a well-lit indoor bonsai.
Native range
Mediterranean region: from Southern Europe to the Middle East and North Africa.
Care tips
It requires full direct sunlight for at least 6-8 hours a day to thrive and bear fruit. Watering should be moderate, allowing the substrate to dry out completely between waterings, as it is sensitive to waterlogging. Use a well-draining, sandy, and slightly alkaline substrate. Avoid extreme low temperatures and prolonged frosts, especially for young specimens.
How to save a dying Olive tree
- Warning signs
- Yellowish or brown falling leaves, dry and brittle stems. Olives are tough, but these signal severe stress.
- First aid
- Check drainage and soil moisture. If waterlogged, repot with lighter substrate. If dry, water deeply. Prune dry branches.
- What kills it
- Overwatering and poor drainage, causing root rot. Also, complete lack of light or prolonged extreme freezing temperatures.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes! Olive trees are very resilient. With quick intervention and problem correction, they usually recover, even if seemingly very affected.