Indoor Olive Tree Plant Care

Indoor Olive Tree (Olea europaea) belongs to the Oleaceae family within the Olea genus. Indoor Olive Tree is native to Asia Minor. Indoor Olive Tree is also known as Olive, Common Olive, European Olive.

Indoor Olive Tree displays an upright, spreading growth habit, reaching up to 20 ft tall with a spread of approximately 10 ft. Indoor Olive Tree produces small, creamy white, and fragrant bloom with four united petals.

Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Indoor Olive Tree 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.

Indoor Olive Tree thrives in full sun.

Olea europaea tolerates temperatures of 50–85°F. Indoor Olive Tree prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Well-draining soil mix. Good drainage is essential for Indoor Olive Tree to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Indoor Olive Tree every 7 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 soil mix. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Indoor Olive Tree is suited to USDA Zone 8a – 11b.

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.

Indoor Olive Tree can spread to about 10 ft (3 m) and reach about 20 ft (6 m) tall. Space plants about 10 ft (3 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 Indoor Olive Tree 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.

Indoor Olive Tree is hardy down to USDA zone 8a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown trees need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Indoor Olive Tree can be propagated through softwood cuttings, seed propagation. Similar propagation techniques also apply to bornean olive plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Indoor Olive Tree 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.

Indoor Olive Tree grows outdoors in USDA Zone 8a – 11b. It survives winters down to planting zone 8a. Indoor Olive Tree is native to Asia Minor.