The best olive tree variety 

Choosing the best variety of olive tree will depend on your specific growing conditions and the look you are wanting to achieve. Here we’ve selected our top young and mature varieties that will add instant impact to any garden.

Young olive trees

Choosing a young olive tree has several benefits but the most obvious one is adaptability. When you start with a young olive tree, you can customise its shape and growth pattern. This can be especially helpful if you are looking to create a specific look or style in your garden. They’re also generally more cost effective as they require less time and resources to grow and maintain.

Tuscan crown olive tree

The Tuscan Crown Olive Tree, originating from Tuscany, is known for its beautiful shape and abundant fruit. This beautiful ornamental tree has a distinctive columnar shape with a narrow crown. The trunk is usually straight, and the branches are dense giving the tree a neat and compact appearance. The leaves are a stunning grayish-green colour.

Arbequina Olive

The Arbequina Olive tree is native to Catalonia but can be UK grown. This impressive olive tree has a rounded canopy with lush, deep green foliage. It also has small white flowers that bloom in the spring. The olives are small to medium-sized and ripen to a dark purple or black colour. This particular variety of olive tree can grow up to 20ft tall!

Niwaki cloud pruned olive tree

Niwaki Cloud Pruned Olive Tree is unique style of pruning that originated in Japan, where it is known as “Niwaki”. The technique involves carefully shaping the tree into a cloud-like shape to create an impressive sculptural effect. Niwaki Cloud Pruned Olive Trees are excellent ornamental trees, perfect for minimalist landscaping styles. They also provide a dramatic backdrop to other plants and features.

Mature olive trees 

Mature olive trees can add instant impact as their size and shape are already established. This means that it can create an instant focal point or screen. Mature olive trees can also produce a higher yield of olives than younger trees. This can be especially beneficial if you are looking to produce your own olive oil or simply enjoy fresh olives from your tree.

Parachute pruned Italian Olive tree

The “Parachute” pruned Italian Olive tree is a unique style of pruning for olive trees that is often used in Tuscany, Italy. This technique involves carefully pruning the branches and foliage of the tree into a distinctive, umbrella-like shape that resembles a parachute. This creative and unique method of pruning creates a dramatic sculptural element to any garden, and the lush foliage provides a welcome shade during the hot summer months.

Muti stemmed olive tree

A multi-stemmed olive tree, as the name suggests, is an olive tree with multiple stems or trunks instead of a single, central trunk. This growth is natural to some olive cultivars and is also achieved through specific pruning techniques. Multi-stemmed olive trees have a bushier and spreading form, making them an excellent choice for those who want a broader and more compact tree for any garden or landscape. They can also be used to create a natural hedge or screen, as they have multiple branches and dense foliage.

Pom pom spiral olive tree

The pom pom spiral olive tree is a unique and ornamental variety of olive tree that is shaped into a spiral. It also has round pom poms of foliage arranged along the length of the stem. This pruning technique combines two styles of pruning – pom pom and spiral – creating a distinctive feature in the garden. The pom pom spiral olive tree is popular for ornamental gardens and landscapes and helping to create a dramatic focal point or feature to any space. It’s well-suited to modern and minimalist garden styles, where its sculptural form and clean lines can be fully appreciated.