ExplorePlants

Olive

Olea europaea

The olive tree is a special tree that grows small, tasty olives. These trees can live for a very long time and are often found in sunny places. They are important for making olive oil, which many people love to use in cooking.

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The Olive has a gnarled, often thick trunk and dense canopy of slender, silvery-green leaves. Its small, creamy-white flowers give way to oval fruits that ripen from green to dark purple or black, making them distinct from many other trees.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderLamialesFamilyOleaceaeGenusOlea
Olive
broadleaf_tree trait badgeevergreen trait badgefruit_bearing trait badgefruit_tree trait badge
Olive

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Ancient Olympic champions were crowned with wreaths made of olive branches!

It takes hundreds of olives to make just one bottle of olive oil!

Olive oil can float on water, making it easy to separate!

Wild olive trees have tiny, bitter fruits, very different from the ones we eat!

Special abilities

Ability

Drought Master

Olive has deep roots and waxy leaves that help it survive for a long time in very dry and hot climates.

Ability

Ancient Survivor

Olive trees can live for hundreds, even thousands, of years, continuing to produce fruit over many generations.

Ability

Salt Defender

Olive can tolerate salty soil and sea breezes, which helps it thrive in coastal regions where other plants struggle.

Ability

Tough Timber

Olive has extremely hard, dense wood that makes it resistant to decay and strong winds, helping it stand firm.

Measurements & details

Height
300-2000 cm
Spread
200-1500 cm
Flower Size
0.3-0.5 cm
Bloom Season
Spring to early Summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Wind

Ecological connections

parasitizes

Olive fruit fly

Bactrocera oleae

Lays eggs in the fruit, larvae consume pulp.

eats

Eurasian Blackbird

Turdus merula

Consumes ripe olive fruits and disperses seeds.

symbiotic with

Mycorrhizal fungus

Glomus mosseae

Helps olive roots absorb nutrients from soil.

parasitizes

Olive psyllid

Euphyllura olivina

Sucks sap from leaves and young shoots.

Traits

Also known as

European Olive

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Don't eat olives from trees unless an adult says it's okay.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Olive?

300-2000 cm

How wide does Olive spread?

200-1500 cm

How big are the flowers on Olive?

0.3-0.5 cm

When does Olive bloom?

Spring to early Summer

Is Olive edible?

Yes

Is Olive toxic?

None

What is Olive's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is Olive pollinated?

Wind

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