Olea Europea 1.7 – 2m, 5-7 cm trunk dia

Description

Olive – Olea europea

Olea europea is Slow-growing, evergreen tree, developing a rounded head, with opposite, leathery, elliptic to lance-shaped, irregularly toothed leaves,  to 8cm long, grey-green above, silvery grey-green beneath. Tiny, fragrant, creamy white flowers are borne in axillary panicles, to 5cm long, in summer, followed by edible, spherical to ovoid green fruit (olives), to 4cm long, ripening to black.

The olive brings shade and a Mediterranean atmosphere. The tree comes from the east of the Mediterranean and has been cultivated there for centuries for the olives. As a tree it is hard and it can be hundreds of years old. On your balcony or in your garden , or inside, you better start small.