Olive
Olea europaea
Oleaceae, Olive family
When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf!
Genesis 8:11 NIV
Find olive trees in the NIV God’s Word for Gardeners Bible in Genesis 8:11, in the Garden Tour landscape Mount of Olives, pages a-18 & a-19 & as part of the Garden Work theme of Choosing, pages a-20 & a-21
Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours…your children will be like olive shoots around your table.
Psalm 128:1-3 NIV
Cultural Information
| Type | Edible Tree |
| Height | 20 to 25 feet |
| Soil | dry, well-drained |
| Exposure | full sun |
| Leaves | evergreen, elliptic, dull, deep green with silvery grey underside, 2-3” |
| Flowers | Creamy white flowers, clustered in panicles, fragrant blooms in spring |
| Fruit | drupe, oval, olive green, some varieties darken to purple or black, 1” harvest fruit in fall |
Planting Tips
- Olive trees are best suited to Zone 9 and warmer, in regions with a Mediterranean climate
- In colder areas, enjoy olives as small potted trees and bring inside for the winter
- Remove suckers at the base of the trunk, or propagate them as cuttings for new trees
- Fresh fruit is never edible right off the tree and requires labor-intensive processing and pickling
- Trees are elegant as ornamentals, enduring, and require little care beyond preparing well-drained soil in a hot, dry climate
- Some communities may require sterile varieties to be cultivated
- Give indoor olive trees a sunny, light-filled spot and minimal watering
Garden to Table
- Olives have a rich, hearty, distinctive flavor characterizing Middle Eastern and Mediterranean foods for millennia
- Eat olives right from the jar or slice for salads, pizza topping, breads, meat or vegetable dishes
- Use oil pressed from olives drizzled by itself over breads, vegetable medleys, or pasta noodles or blended with spices in salad dressings and marinades
- Start every soup or cooked greens recipe by sautéing leeks, onions and/or garlic in olive oil
- Tapenades feature olives and olive oil blended with other ingredients into a paste consistency for spreading on bread or garnishing a hearty meat dish
Additional Resources
See Blog Posts on OliveNoah, who walked with the Lord and remained steadfast in faith amidst a harsh environment of evil, violent corruption (Genesis 6:9), stood against his landscape like the olive tree, defying wasteland with fruitfulness.
-from the NIV God's Word for Gardeners Bible
Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours…your children will be like olive shoots around your table.
Psalm 128:1-3 NIV
Photo Credits
© Musat Christian | Dreamstime.com
© Marilyn Gould | Dreamstime.com
© 2016 Shelley S. Cramm Olive tree topiaries for sale at Roger's Gardens nursery in southern California
Pomegranate