Plants

olive

Olea europaea

Family: Oleaceae · Genus: Olea

Secondary II Medium No biomass production

Olive, a long-lived evergreen tree of the Oleaceae family, exotic to Brazil and grown in temperate and subtropical regions, notably the Mantiqueira highlands (MG/SP) and the highlands of Rio Grande do Sul. It tolerates drought well and withstands moderate frost (to about -10 °C); a cool winter is needed to induce flowering. It flowers in spring and the olive ripens in autumn/winter.

📚 Synonyms

Scientific synonyms: Olea sativa Hoffmanns. & Link, Olea europaea var. sativa

Götsch succession

Götsch stage: Secondary II
Ecological role: Late secondary
Primary stratum: Medium
Strata: Medium
Biomass class: No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Low
Drought tolerance: High
Waterlogging tolerance: None
Soil pH range: 6–8
Preferred soil texture: Loamy, Sandy, Clayey
Hardiness zones: 8–11
Frost tolerance: -10.0 °C

Morphology

Mature height: 4–12 m
Recommended spacing: 5–8 m
Root system: Lateral
Root depth: Deep
Growth rate: Slow
Lifespan: 100–500 years
Time to first harvest: 60 months
Productive lifespan: 100 years

Biomes & climate

Pampa Suitable
Atlantic Forest Suitable

Köppen classes

Hot-summer Mediterranean (Csa) Suitable
Warm-summer Mediterranean (Csb) Suitable
Oceanic (Cfb) Suitable
Subtropical highland (Cwb) Suitable

Where it fits in a guild

Olive takes the Medium stratum in the Secondary II phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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🪴 Cultivation

Propagated by cuttings or grafting. Grown for oil and table olives; extensive roots give high drought tolerance. Needs good drainage. It requires a cool winter (chill accumulation) for good floral induction, a limiting factor in warm regions of Brazil.

✂️ Management & Pruning

Train to an open-center (vase) form with 3–4 main branches that keep the canopy airy and lit — essential for fruiting, which occurs on one-year-old wood. Maintenance pruning is light and done in late winter/early spring (Aug–Sep), removing vertical water sprouts, shaded interior shoots and basal suckers. Avoid heavy pruning, which spurs unproductive vegetative growth.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: October, November

Fruiting months: April, May, June

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of olive?

The first harvest of olive comes around 60 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for olive?

The recommended spacing for olive is 5–8 m.

How tall does olive grow?

At maturity, olive reaches 4–12 m tall.

When does olive fruit?

Fruiting of olive occurs in April, May, June.

When does olive flower?

Flowering of olive occurs in October, November.

What stage and stratum does olive occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, olive belongs to the secondary ii stage, occupying the medium stratum.

Functions

🍎 Fruit Oil seed Timber Ornamental 🍯 Melliferous

Propagation

Cutting, Grafting

Citations

Wikipedia (scientific_name, family, height_min_m, height_max_m, frost_tolerance_c, drought_tolerance, propagation, gbif_taxon_key)
Plants For A Future (pruning_notes, time_to_first_harvest_months, productive_lifespan_years, ph_min, ph_max)
POWO (powo_id, scientific_name)