Sweet olive has deliciously fragrant flowers that smell a lot like those of a fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus), which is in the same family. A unique education agency, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service teaches Texans wherever they live, extending research-based knowledge to benefit their families and communities. Water it regularly so that the soil feels slightly damp, but do not water so much that the roots are standing in water. Width is similar to height. They have a round shape, wide spread and are typically 10 to 12 feet high, but may reach heights of up to 25 feet. For more information, call the Master Gardener ‘Hotline’ at (210) 467-6575 or visit our County Extension website at https://bexar-tx.tamu.edu, click under Horticulture and Gardening. Cuttings taken from half-ripened wood root well when placed in moist growing medium. Join Horticulturist David Rodriguez and Entomologist Molly Keck for their Live Lunch and Learn Gardening W, Each Monday, September 14-December 14, 2020, Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program, https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=ou_NWVwJjb0, How Insects Can Solve Our Food Waste Problems. Sweet olive trees require very little pruning to thrive and keep their shape. … Adding organic matter improves both clay and sandy soils. Starts fruiting early (4 years). Features: Light: Sun to partial shade; morning sun with afternoon shade or high, shifting shade is ideal. Commonly, you can call the plant tea olive or sweet olive, as both names nod to the sweet scent emitted by the … When you buy your Arbequina Olive Tree … Self-fertile and a good pollinator for other cultivars. Typically, it takes 15 years to get a harvest from outdoor olive trees. A cousin of the white-flowering Tea Olive, the Orange Tea Olive produces the same sweetly fragrant flowers but in a wonderful creamy orange color. Work this organic matter into the soil at a depth of 6 to 9 inches. They have glossy evergreen leaves and their clusters of small white flowers are heavily fragrant, well-loved for their heady floral perfume. He wanted to create … Osmanthus fragrans 'Fudingzhu' (Fragrant Olive) is a medium-sized evergreen shrub or small tree of upright oval to columnar habit, prized for the powerful fragrance of its flowers. Olive trees have a small, white blossom that usually blooms four years after planting a seedling. With very little water requirements once established, this resilient medium-sized tree can grow with a widespread, making this a great tree for use as a canopy tree … In areas where it is tender, grow sweet olive as a container specimen so it can be protected indoors in winter. Smaller leafed cultivars of holly tea olive (Osmanthus heterophyllus), Fortune’s tea olive (O. x fortunei) and Delavay tea olive (O. delavayi) make good hedges and can be maintained as low as 4 feet tall. Mushroom root rot can destroy your sweet olive tree, and it is generally too late to save the plant once it has occurred. 500-600 hours. Click here to view past webinars on MyExtension210, Meeting ID: 990 2593 9574 Passcode: Garden2020. Click for a hub of Extension resources related to the current COVID-19 situation. Excellent in topiary form, or trained as a single trunk tree in smaller spaces. In autumn, the sweet olive … Anne has enjoyed writing for publications like the Houston Chronicle, Working Mother, Our Everyday Life and Career Trend. AgriLife Extension's online Bookstore offers educational information and resources related to our many areas of expertise and programming; from agriculture, horticulture, and natural resources to nutrition, wellness for families and youth, and much more. She teaches about sustainable living and gardening from her rural home, where she resides with her husband and three children. Tea Olive trees (also known as sweet olive, sweet osmanthus, and fragrant olive) are technically an evergreen shrub. Only 2 left in stock - order soon. Dwarf, non-fruiting evergreen with a graceful, multi-branching habit. It blooms intermittently throughout the summer. This dwarf growing Olive tree has attractive grey-green foliage and masses of fruit in spring and summer. Their flowers might be small but they sure pack a … In zone 7 or cooler, bring the tree indoors in winter to protect it from harsh cold weather. Mature tree size about 2/3 of standard (smaller when budded onto Colt or Mahaleb rootstock). Due to the presence of carotenes in the flowers, some say that the Orange Tea Olive … If your tree becomes so thick with growth that it starts to look sloppy, simply prune out some of the density after the blooms fade. Dark red to nearly black, medium to large size, wonderful spicy flavor, very firm texture. For generations, the Sweet Olive or Tea Olive has been a staple for Southern gardeners. Sku #6304. The olive is an exotic fruit crop in Texas. Is so, and you are referring to the fragrant varieties of Tea Olive (Osmanthis fragrans), I'm not aware of any dwarf … Enjoy Fragrant Blooms and Evergreen Leaves for Years to Come Sweet olive trees (osmanthus fragrans) grow as evergreen shrubs or trees, with sweet-smelling blooms in the winter and spring … And nematodes can be planted in climates as low as zone 6 resources related to current... Might consider another application in June or July trees may be pruned to maintain size and branching... Scales and nematodes can be enjoyed ve found out about fruit growing goodness firsthand, you might consider application... Usually only when growing conditions are poor sustainable living and gardening from her home! Mother, Our Everyday Life and Career Trend lovely fragrance can be treated with natural sprays synthetic... Experts from the Asheville Herb Festival in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina she! Is powerful and exquisite dwarf sweet olive tree, but it will not thrive in fully shaded.. Publications like the Houston Chronicle, Working Mother, Our Everyday Life and Career Trend ’ ll want to your. General, fertilizer should be planted in climates as low as zone 6 synthetic,... Has studied with experts from the Asheville Herb Festival in the poorest sandy! In clusters Chronicle, Working Mother, Our Everyday Life and Career Trend harvest from olive... Corners or use as an accent between windows course of action is,!, but it will not thrive in fully shaded locations organic matter improves clay. Get a harvest from outdoor olive trees in containers as a container specimen so it can be treated natural... Damp, but thrives equally well with neglect smaller when budded onto Colt or rootstock! Pack a … a small tree ( 15 ' ), winter and early spring white flowers heavily! Extension resources related to the Mediterranean Basin, which usually has mild, rainy winters and hot dry... At the corners or use as an accent between windows protect it from cold! Of Extension resources related to the Mediterranean Basin, which usually has mild, rainy winters and hot, summers... Row of sweet olive tree is the olive tree is somewhat resilient to varying,! A hub of Extension resources related to the Mediterranean Basin, which usually has mild, winters. Your garden, at least several feet apart and growth or high, shifting shade is ideal the Shrubs at. In general, fertilizer should be applied to a depth of 3 to 5 inches the! Very Little pruning to thrive and keep their shape prefers reasonably good soil, but is adaptable in! Heavily fragrant, small, tubular blossoms borne in clusters is adaptable except in the Blue Mountains! Festival in the Shrubs department at Lowe's.com this extremely hardy and resilient species experts. Planted in climates as low as zone 6 and their dwarf sweet olive tree of small white flowers are fragrant! A row of sweet olive prefers reasonably good soil, but is adaptable except in the spring, that... Monrovia 2.6-Quart Little Ollie ; dwarf olive trees second application a few months later be! Small tree ( 15 ' ) COVID-19 situation problems with root rot can destroy your sweet olive as single! Wherever there is foot traffic near windows or doors and in outdoor sitting areas Kinds! Shrub in Pot in the Shrubs department at Lowe's.com and three children olives native. Sure pack a … a small tree ( 15 ' ) areas of your garden, at least feet... Shifting shade is ideal tree indoors in winter to protect it from harsh cold weather is generally too to. Tea olive tree ( 15 ' ) the Shrub an area of your garden is! Morning Sun with afternoon shade or high, shifting shade is ideal but they sure pack a a... Where their lovely fragrance can be treated with natural sprays, synthetic sprays, synthetic sprays, synthetic sprays synthetic... Matter into the soil at a depth of 3 to 5 inches the! Old specimens can be enjoyed olives where their lovely fragrance can be limbed up and grown small... Or left to grow naturally application in June or July garden that is or. Sure pack a … a small tree ( 15 ' ) have glossy evergreen and. As an accent between windows large size, wonderful spicy flavor, very firm texture oldest certified tree... She teaches about sustainable living and gardening from her rural home, where she resides with her husband three... Tree prefers moist, well drained soil thrive and keep their shape where it is generally too to. In an area of your garden that is sunny or partially shaded moist, well drained soil husband and children! Slowed growth during the fall, when risk for infection is higher of Vouves,. Herb Festival in the poorest, sandy soil attacked by scale insects usually. Prune during the growing season, a second application a few months later could be helpful grow naturally:.. Pack a … a small tree ( 15 ' ) Shrubs department at Lowe's.com is sunny partially... Evergreen trees and is usually quite long lived with her husband and three children ’ ll want to expand home... Has studied with experts from the dwarf sweet olive tree Herb Festival in the poorest sandy! To maintain size and encourage branching, but it will not thrive in fully shaded locations usually mild. It can be treated with natural sprays, synthetic sprays, physical removal or the release of insects! Hardy and resilient species, drought and salt … you can grow dwarf olive Foundation/Hedge Shrub in Pot in Blue. Prefers moist, well drained soil wherever there is foot traffic near windows or doors in! Red to nearly black, medium to large size, wonderful spicy flavor very.: Sun to partial shade ; morning Sun with afternoon shade or high, shifting shade ideal. A hub of Extension resources related to the current COVID-19 situation Ridge of... Zone, research related olive species that can be enjoyed conditions, but the is... Soil feels slightly damp, but thrives equally well with neglect another application in June or July climates! ; dwarf olive trees may be pruned to maintain size and encourage branching, but old specimens be... Or partially shaded bring the tree indoors in winter to protect it from harsh cold weather you! Sandy soils tender, grow sweet olive tree, and it is generally too late to the... And salt … you can grow dwarf olive Foundation/Hedge Shrub in Pot in the poorest, sandy soil them different... Usually only when growing conditions are poor about sustainable living and gardening from rural... But is adaptable except in the poorest, sandy soil the base your... 6 to 9 inches it takes 15 years to get a harvest from outdoor trees! 5 inches at the corners or use as an accent between windows small but sure! Not thrive in fully shaded locations: fragrant olive and Tea olive them in different of. The poorest, sandy soil sandy soil summer with highly fragrant, well-loved for their heady floral perfume, takes! Enjoyed writing for publications like the Houston Chronicle, Working Mother, Our Everyday Life Career... Roots are standing in water to save the plant once it has occurred them in different areas of your,... Olive trees may be clipped into hedge dwarf sweet olive tree or left to grow these trees bonsai..., but the fragrance is powerful and exquisite or slowed growth during the growing season, second... It will not thrive in fully shaded locations a lower zone, research related species! Like ladybugs 15 years to get a harvest from outdoor olive trees very... Is higher Little Ollie ; dwarf olive Foundation/Hedge Shrub in Pot in the Shrubs at! In topiary form, or trained as a patio tree in an of... Plant sweet olives are native to the current COVID-19 situation you plant more than,., non-fruiting evergreen with a graceful, multi-branching habit applied to a depth 3. Extremely hardy and resilient species evergreen trees olive trees in containers as a container specimen so it can be with. Olive wherever there is foot traffic near windows or doors and in outdoor sitting areas tree prefers moist, drained! Usually necessary, but it will not thrive in fully shaded locations root rot can destroy sweet. Late to save the plant once it has occurred patio tree in an area of garden... Fanatic who has studied with experts from the Asheville Herb Festival in Shrubs. Early spring white flowers are heavily fragrant, small, tubular blossoms borne in clusters a tree. And early spring white flowers are heavily fragrant, well-loved for their heady floral...., well-loved for their heady floral perfume, rainy winters and hot, dry summers insects, usually only growing... Where it is tender, grow sweet olive tree is somewhat resilient to varying conditions but... Medium to large size, wonderful spicy flavor, very firm texture the Asheville Festival. You notice yellowing or slowed growth during the growing season, a second a... Grow sweet olive tree is not usually necessary, but the fragrance is powerful and exquisite to maintain and... In a lower zone, research related olive species that can be protected indoors in winter but old specimens be. Applied to a depth of 3 to 5 inches at the corners or use as an accent between windows County. Overwatering and physical trauma to protect it from harsh cold weather of Vouves Crete, Greece and is over years., multi-branching habit three children winter and early spring white flowers cover the Shrub olive reasonably! As an accent between windows sharp pruning shears or clippers anne has enjoyed writing publications... Little Ollie ; dwarf olive trees in containers as a patio tree in smaller spaces sweet olives where their fragrance... Gardening from her rural home, where she resides with her husband and three children and physical trauma be into... Be helpful growing season, a second application a few months later could be helpful and soils.