Black Olive Plant Care

Black Olive (Terminalia buceras) belongs to the Combretaceae family within the Terminalia genus. Black Olive is native to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. Black Olive is also known as Bulletwood, West Indian Olive, Oxhorn Bucida.

Black Olive displays a tall, spreading tree growth habit, reaching up to 50 ft tall with a spread of approximately 30 ft. Black Olive produces small, inconspicuous flowers in clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Black 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.

Black Olive thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Terminalia buceras tolerates temperatures of 60–85°F. Black Olive prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Black Olive to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Black Olive every 6 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 to partial shade and well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Black Olive is suited to USDA Zone 10b – 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.

Black Olive can spread to about 30 ft (9.1 m) and reach about 50 ft (15 m) tall. Space plants about 30 ft (9.1 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 Black 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.

Black Olive is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 10). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Black Olive can be propagated through seeds, stem cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to grey terminalia plant care, which shares the same genus.

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Black Olive is susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, scale insects. 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.

Black Olive grows outdoors in USDA Zone 10b – 11b. It survives winters down to planting zone 10b. Black Olive is native to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. In cooler regions, grow Black Olive as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.