The Olive (Olea europaea) is a species of small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean region, from Syria and the maritime parts of Asia Minor and northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea. Its fruit, the olive, is of major agricultural importance in the Mediterranean region as the source of olive oil.
The Olive is an evergreen tree or shrub native to the Mediterranean, Asia and parts of Africa. It is short and squat, and rarely exceeds 30' in height.
The trunk is typically gnarled and twisted.
The fruit is a small drupe 0.5-1" long, thinner-fleshed and smaller in wild plants than in orchard cultivars. Olives are harvested at the green stage or left to ripen to a rich purple color (black olive). Canned black olives may contain chemicals that turn them black artificially.
Is also suitable as bonsai
Hardiness: Zones 10-11
Sowing instructions:
Soak the seed in lukewarm water for 24 hours. Plant in container and lightly cover the seed. the oil temp must have 65-70F. covering the pot with a plastic sheet is beneficial. It takes 30-120 days to germinate.
