American Olive Plant Care

American Olive (Olea americana) belongs to the Oleaceae family within the Olea genus. American Olive is native to southeastern North America, in the United States from Virginia to Texas, and in Mexico from Nuevo León south to Oaxaca and Veracruz. American Olive is also known as Devilwood, Wild Olive.

American Olive displays a slow-growing small tree growth habit, reaching up to 20 ft tall with a spread of approximately 15 ft. American Olive produces tiny, fragrant white flowers in clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.

Water a young or newly planted American Olive every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

American Olive thrives in full sun.

Olea americana tolerates temperatures of 50–85°F. American Olive prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining sandy loam with good organic content. Good drainage is essential for American Olive to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed American Olive every 8 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun and well-draining sandy loam with good organic content. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

American Olive is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

American Olive can spread to about 15 ft (4.6 m) and reach about 20 ft (6 m) tall. Space plants about 15 ft (4.6 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune American Olive while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

American Olive is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

American Olive can be propagated through seeds, semi-hardwood cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to indoor olive tree plant care, which shares the same genus.

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American Olive is susceptible to scale insects, aphids, olive fruit fly. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

American Olive grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. American Olive is native to southeastern North America, in the United States from Virginia to Texas, and in Mexico from Nuevo León south to Oaxaca and Veracruz. In cooler regions, grow American Olive as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.