Description

Olea europaea 'Swan Hill', 'Wilsonii', and 'Majestic Beauty' have been hybridized to be non-fruiting. They bear little to no fruit and can reach sizes of 30' tall and wide. Olive trees are native to the Mediterranean, but they have become incredibly popular in the California landscape. They are drought-tolerant and have evergreen gray-green foliage and a picturesque silhouette. When they are young, they greatly benefit from some frequent pruning to encourage growth upward. The branches of these trees tend to arch and weep when the trees are young, so thinning out some of the foliage and reducing the weight will allow the branches to pop back upright. The natural growth habits are more shrub-like, especially when they are in the multi-trunk form, so removing some of the lower new branches and exposing the trunks will improve the look and shape. These trees can be hand pruned if the branches can be reached from the ground, but it is advised to hire a licensed arborist to do the pruning. These trees should be planted at least four feet away from any hardscape areas, 15 feet from structures such as houses and buildings, and not near any powerlines. Shrubs and perennials should be planted about three feet away from these trees. They should be irrigated for about 45 minutes once a week when using most in-line drip irrigation systems.