Olive
Olea europaea
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Baleares, Botswana, Burundi, Canary Is., Cyprus, Djibouti, DR Congo, East Aegean Is., Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Greece, India, Iran, Italy, Kenya, Kriti, Lesotho, Libya, Madeira, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, NW. Balkan Pen., Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Réunion, Rwanda, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
en:User:Nickfraser (en.wikipedia.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Genus:
- Olea
- Species:
- Olea europaea
- USDA Symbol:
- OLEU
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 1500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
American plum borer (Euzophera semifuneralis), Ash Borer (Podosesia syringae), Characoma nilotica, Kimball's palpita moth (Palpita kimballi), Omnivorous Looper (Sabulodes aegrotata), White-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from the root crown and trunk after fire or severe frost damage. Ancient specimens show remarkable regeneration capacity.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, calcareous soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.5 (slightly acidic to alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in poor, nutrient-deficient soils
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Warm stratification required — 30–60 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 30–90 days
- Notes:
- Seeds have hard endocarp requiring scarification; warm stratification improves germination. Germination can be slow and erratic.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI