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Trees

Olea europaea 'Fastigiata'

olive 'Fastigiata'

A more compact and upright form of the typical species, producing branches to 4m (13½ft) and a canopy to 2m (6½ft) across after 10 years. The stems carry evergreen oval-shaped, grey-green foliage and clusters of lightly fragrant, small, cream coloured, fluffy flowers in early summer, followed by green olives when grown in warm areas, which turn black when ripe in autumn. The tree is reputedly more cold tolerant and of growing in slightly more shade than the typical species.

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Ultimate height

4–8 metres

Time to ultimate height

20–50 years

Ultimate spread

1.5–2.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Clay

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Oleaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Columnar upright
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).
Name status: Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Grows in any well-drained soil, in full sun.

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 and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Patio and container plants
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely) and Olive scab

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