Olea europaea
Olive tree · also Fruiting olive, Oliveleaf, Small fruit olive
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Olea europaea is a subtropical evergreen tree with a gnarled trunk and distinctive silvery-green leaves, producing small flowers and edible fruits. It is highly valued for its long lifespan and ability to thrive in dry, rocky, well-drained soils and Mediterranean climates, making it a hardy and drought-tolerant choice for urban landscapes and soil erosion control.
Where it grows
Trees in each city's inventory, with the share of that city's named trees this species accounts for.
- 3,3502.5%14 yr5.0 in
- 2,7820.60%36 yr7.5 in
- 1,2790.83%—1.9 in
- 7362.8%—12 in
- 3420.03%—1.5 in
- 3160.14%—3.8 in
- 2943.6%——
- 2850.08%—9.1 in
- 720.01%——
- 320.01%17 yr—
- 230.01%——
- 13.3%——
- 10.00%——
Traits
- Form
- Broadleaf
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Mature height
- 24.9–65.6 ft
- Canopy spread
- 25–30 ft
- Lifespan
- 200 years
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Soil
- Dry, Rocky, Sandy, Well-drained
- Water needs
- Low
- Drought tolerance
- High
- Wildlife value
- Moderate
- Tolerates
- coastal
- Blooms
- Mar, Apr, May
Trunk diameters across every city: median 7.5 in, mean 8.3 in, 90th percentile 18 in. Measured at breast height, as published by each inventory.
Native range
Terrestrial ecoregions where this species is native. Trees in the dataset mostly stand well outside it.
Tropical & Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
- East African montane forests
Tropical & Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas & Shrublands
- South Arabian fog woodlands, shrublands, and dune
Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands & Scrub
- Aegean and Western Turkey sclerophyllous and mixed forests
Deserts & Xeric Shrublands
- South Iran Nubo-Sindian desert and semi-desert
Other Olea in the catalogue
3 of the top 2,000 species are in this genus.
