Olea europaea (Olive Tree)
Olive trees are relatively low-maintenance evergreen trees with attractive gray-green leaves. We offer two cultivars of olive trees that are proven to be hardy and fruit-bearing in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.
Requirements: Full sun and a radius of about 3 ft. free of grasses and other competitors for nutrients.
Care: They are drought capable once established but regular and diligent watering can greatly accelerate their growth when young. They will gain hardiness with age and size until they reach maturity after 2-3 years. Until then they will need winter protection in prolonged temperatures below 15 F.
Olea europaea 'Arbequina'
A self-fertile cultivar from Spain that will grow upward of 15 ft. Their fruit is a glossy black when ripe and is relatively small but rather meaty due to their small pits. Hardy to around 15 F after 3 years.
Olea europaea 'Frantoio'
A fast growing Tuscan cultivar that will reach around 20' ft. in 10 years time. It is self-fertile and a heavy fruiter of moderate sized olives which are prized for their oil. Hardy to around 10 F after 3 years.