Wild olive (Olea europaea var europaea)

The olive tree is an evergreen tree

Image – Wikimedia/Fernando Losada Rodríguez

The olive tree is an evergreen tree that it is not as popular as the olive tree, at least not outside its places of origin. However, like him, it can live without any problem in clay soils, poor in nutrients, and even in those that have a certain tendency to erosion.

However, over time its most widespread use has been ornamental, either as a garden plant or as a bonsai, being one of the most interesting for beginners due to its low water demand. But, how is this plant?

What is wild olive?

The olive tree is a slow-growing plant

Image – Wikimedia/Antoni Salva

The wild olive, whose scientific name is Olea europaea var europaea*, is a plant that usually grows more like a bush and not so much like a tree that grows wild in the Eastern Mediterranean basin. Reaches a height of approximately 1 to 5 meters, depending on where the seed has germinated, if you have other plants nearby, and the weather. The leaves are small, about 1 centimeter, and shiny dark green on the upper side, and green on the underside.

Its flowers are also small, 1 centimeter, and white.. Once they are pollinated, the fruits known as acebuchinas ripen, which are similar to olives but smaller in size and darker in color (they are brown or black when they finish ripening).

*The names Olea europaea var sylvestris y ole oleaster are considered synonyms. In other words, the acebuche is the wild olive tree.

What uses does it have?

This plant has several uses:

  • Ornamental: in a garden it can be used as a low or medium height hedge, isolated specimen to provide shade, or planted in rows. It can also be worked as a bonsai, or grown in a pot as a shrub or small tree given its resistance to pruning.
  • Edible: although its olives are smaller than those of the olive tree, in restaurants in the Mediterranean region they are usually served as a snack. In addition, wild olive oil can be consumed on toast or salads, for example.
  • Medicinal: according to a study of the University of Seville, which was echoed by El País, revealed that the consumption of wild olives helps maintain normal blood pressure, reducing hypertension.

What care does the olive tree require?

Very few, actually. But to avoid problems as much as possible, we are going to explain how you can keep it healthy and precious:

Location

The wild olive It is an outdoor plant, which must be in a sunny place. It is important that this is taken into account, because otherwise it would not live long. In addition, in case of planting it in the garden, it should be placed at a distance of about 2 meters from walls and large plants.

Its roots are not invasive, but like all plant roots, they will go in search of moisture. For this reason, if you are concerned about the pipes, put it about 4 or 5 meters away from them.

Earth

  • Garden: Grows in clay, well-drained soils. It can tolerate occasional flooding, but it is preferable that the soil does not remain waterlogged for a long time.
  • Flower pot: will be planted with universal growing medium. Also, the pot should have drainage holes.

Irrigation

Adult olive trees in Mallorca

Wild olive trees in the south of Majorca.

The olive tree is a sclerophyllous plant, that is, it resists drought and heat. When you have it in the garden, you will only need to water it once or twice a week for the first year, to make it easier for it to root and acclimatize. From the second, you will be able to space out the watering more and more, until you stop watering it.

On the other hand, if it is in a pot, yes you will have to water it from time to time throughout its life. In summer, it will be watered twice a week, and the rest of the year once a week, or even less if it rains.

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It is not necessary to pay it, unless it is in a pot, in which case a regular supply of liquid organic fertilizer, such as seaweed fertilizer or the guano.

Pruning

When the specimen is still young and has not flowered, it can be pruned at the end of winter; otherwise, it is recommended to do it in the fall. You have to remove dry and broken branches, as well as cut back those that are growing a lot.

If you want to have it as a small tree, you must also eliminate those that are growing a short distance from the ground, to keep the trunk without branches up to a certain height.

Plagues and diseases

The olive tree is a resistant plant

Image - Wikimedia / Pau Cabot

It is quite sturdy, but can be attacked by the same pests that affect the olive tree, to know:

  • Olive fly
  • olive mealybug
  • Olive moth
  • olive thrips
  • Borer
  • olive erinose

They can be treated with specific insecticides, sticky traps: diatomaceous earth.

If we talk about diseases, it is difficult for it to have it, but if the soil remains wet for too long, the roots will weaken and fungi, such as Pythium or Phytopthora, will appear. These are combated with copper or fungicides.

Rusticity

Resists frost up to -7ºC, as well as temperatures up to 40ºC.

What do you think of the wild olive?


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