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Other common names common olive
cultivated oliveedible olive
European olive
lady's oil
olive oil plant
sweet oil plant -
Family Oleaceae
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Genus Olea are small or medium sized evergreen trees with simple, opposite leathery leaves. Flowers are in terminal or axillary panicles, and are small, whitish and followed by an ovoid, oblong or globose drupe (fruit).
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Details O. europaea has a rugged, much-branched habit and slow growth, eventually 4.5-9m. Leaves are narrowly obovate or oval, to 7.5cm long, leathery, silvery beneath. Very small white flowers are borne in axillary racemes to 5cm long. Fruit rarely produced in Britain
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Plant range Mediterranean
How to grow
Cultivation Grow in deep, fertile, sharply-drained soil in full sun. Under glass, grow in John Innes No 3 with added sharp sand, in full light
Propagation Propagate by seed in spring at a temperature of 13-15°C (55-59°F). Can also be propagated by semi-ripe cuttings in summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types City & Courtyard Gardens Coastal Gravel Garden Mediterranean Climate Plants Patio & Container Plants Sub-tropical
How to care
Pruning Pruning group 1. Under glass prune to restrict size in spring
Pests scale insect may be a problem
Diseases Usually trouble free