What Zones Do Olive Trees Grow In?

Olive trees need a subtropical climate and do best with mild winters and long, warm, and dry summers. They are sensitive to hard freezing environments. They will grow in climate zones 10 and 11 (see map below). Some varieties are hardy enough for zone 9 or even 8.

How far north can olive trees grow?

Olive trees thrive in the northeast where they can live outside in containers from spring through early fall, but then they must be moved inside. In winter, they cannot survive outside because of low temperatures in the northeast that range from 10 degrees Fahrenheit to minus 25 F.

Can I grow olive trees in Zone 7?

USDA Zone 7 is typically considered too cold for olive trees.

What is the most cold hardy olive tree?

While there are no zone 6 olive cultivars, if you still want to try growing olive trees in zone 6, the most cold-hardy include:

• Arbequina.
• Ascolana.
• Mission.
• Sevillano.

Can I grow an olive tree in Zone 8?

You can find hardy olive trees in commerce that will thrive in USDA zone 8. Zone 8 olive trees generally require that winter temperatures stay above 10 degrees F. (-12 C.). They also require some 300 to 1,000 hours of chill to bear fruit, depending on the cultivar.

Can olive tree survive winter?

Olive trees require a Mediterranean-like climate to survive. They need a long, hot summer and a cool, not frigid, winter. A mature tree can survive temperatures down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit for a limited amount of time; sustained cold below 15 degrees can be fatal.

Can olive trees survive snow?

If the cold sets in gradually and the air is dry, olive trees are hardy down to 10 to 17°F (-8 to -12°C) and have been known to survive temperatures as low as 0 to 4°F (-15 to -18°C). But if moisture and water join the game, all is lost.

Do you need 2 olive trees to produce fruit?

Do you need two olive trees to get crops? Arbequina olive trees are self-pollinating, so you only need one to get fruit. However, planting another olive tree will increase your harvest.

How messy are olive trees?

Olive trees are not messy and are easy to care for. Their slow molting rate means that they will drop infrequent and occasional leaf debris. The fruiting varieties of olives will drop their crop and are easy to clean up after.

How long does it take for olive trees to produce olives?

three years
You should begin to see fruit on your olive tree after three years. In terms of production, don’t be surprised if your tree seems to take every other year off. Olives are described as alternate-year-bearing species and typically have a year of heavy fruit production followed by a year of lighter production.

Can you eat olives off the tree?

1. Olives are inedible before they are cured. Many people don’t know that olives are actually inedible when they are first picked. Raw olives straight from the tree contain oleuropein, an extremely bitter compound that makes olives completely unpalatable.

How long does it take for an olive tree to grow to full height?

3-12 years
Quick Reference Growing Guide

Plant Type:	Small, evergreen tree or shrub	Attracts:
Exposure:	Full sun	Soil pH:
Time to Maturity:	3-12 years depending on cultivar; most around years 5-6	Soil Drainage:
Spacing:	Minimum of 12 feet between trees in an orchard environment; 6 feet for hedge type planting	Companion Planting:

How quickly do olive trees grow?

Olives are long-lived trees with durable wood and grow quite slowly. They are officially classified as slow growing, meaning that they grow 1 to12 inches a year. During its first years, a young olive tree can grow closer to the top of this range, but growth slows as it matures.

Do olive trees attract rodents?

Clean Up Dropped Fruit. Citrus and olive trees are beautiful. Being able to walk outside and pick fresh produce feels like a luxury. Fruit trees are a lovely addition to any landscape, but they also attract rodents.

How big is a 5 year old olive tree?

When planted in the ground they can reach heights up to 20 feet and they will need 12 feet of spacing. You can grow them in a container in ALL zones. When container-grown they will reach a height of about 5-6 feet tall.

Are olive trees hard to grow?

Olive trees are slow-growing plants that typically add about 2 to 4 inches of height per year. Indoor olive trees are even slower to grow than those planted in the ground, and they typically only require repotting in a larger container every few years.

Do olive trees come back after a freeze?

“When an olive tree freezes to the ground, our soil temperatures are warm enough that the roots aren’t killed, so the tree will start over,” he said. “We have some trees in the area that were planted in the 1970s and have frozen back to the ground many times.

Do I need to cover olive trees in winter?

Olive trees are hardy but may require some winter protection for the first few years. In heavy snow or particularly severe winter weather even established trees may be damaged but are easily protected with a wrap of hessian or fleece.

How long can olive trees live in pots?

Olive trees can survive a number of years in a pot, although they will ultimately need to be planted in the ground to survive. As long as you have a sufficiently large pot, the tree can live up to eight or nine years in it.

How long do olive trees live?

500 years
Humans have grown olive trees for thousands of years. The oldest known olive tree is 1500 years old, but the average life span is 500 years. Olive trees are loved for their fruits, eaten fresh or brined and pressed into oil.

Do olive trees have deep roots?

While other trees send their roots deep into the ground, olive trees feature shallow root systems, reports Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension. This allows olive roots to collect water from soil that typically dries fast, ensuring the tree gets enough moisture to stay hydrated.