Wild Olive Plant Care

Wild Olive (Vepris heterophylla) belongs to the Rutaceae family within the Vepris genus. Wild Olive is native to Ghana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mali, and Nigeria, on the African continent. Wild Olive is also known as African Wild Olive.

Wild Olive displays an upright, bushy tree growth habit, reaching up to 15 ft tall with a spread of approximately 10 ft. Wild Olive produces small white fragrant flowers in clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Wild 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.

Wild Olive thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Vepris heterophylla tolerates temperatures of 60–85°F. Wild Olive prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining loamy soil with added sand and organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Wild Olive to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Wild 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 sand and organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Wild Olive is suited to USDA Zone 10b – 12b.

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.

Wild Olive can spread to about 10 ft (3 m) and reach about 15 ft (5 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 Wild 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.

Wild 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.

Wild Olive can be propagated through seeds, stem cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to vepris allenii plant care, which shares the same genus.

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Wild Olive is susceptible to citrus leaf miner, aphids, 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.

Wild Olive grows outdoors in USDA Zone 10b – 12b. It survives winters down to planting zone 10b. Wild Olive is native to Ghana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mali, and Nigeria, on the African continent. In cooler regions, grow Wild Olive as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.