Olive Tree

The olive tree is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world. It has been growing in Mediterranean gardens, courtyards, and hillsides for thousands of years which tells you something important about its character. The Olive is unhurried, undemanding, and deeply accustomed to the rhythms of a well-lived life. Indoors, it brings that same quality: ancient, beautiful, and remarkably easy to live with.

Olea europaea is grown indoors primarily for its form and foliage the narrow, grey-green leaves with silver undersides that shimmer in natural light, and the gnarled, characterful trunk that develops over time. In good light it may produce small white flowers and eventually tiny olives, but even without fruit it's a genuinely beautiful plant. It's also genuinely pet-safe, which makes it an excellent choice for homes with animals.

This is a plant with centuries of pedigree and the temperament to match.

Why You'll Love It

The Olive Tree brings something most houseplants can't: the feeling of the Mediterranean. The combination of grey-green foliage, silvery undersides, and increasingly characterful trunk as the plant matures creates a look that's impossible to replicate with any other plant. It's also one of the few trees that can be kept beautifully in a pot for years responding well to light pruning that encourages a pleasing shape and keeps it in proportion with its space.

Care at a Glance

• Light: Bright direct or indirect light. A south-facing window is ideal this plant needs the most light of almost any houseplant
• Water: Allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry between waterings. Drought-tolerant once established
• Humidity: Prefers low humidity. Good air circulation is more important than moisture
• Temperature: Prefers 65 to 85 degrees F during growing season. Benefits from a cooler winter rest (45 to 65 degrees F) to encourage flowering
• Growth: Slow to moderate. Responds well to pruning, which encourages branching
• Skill level: Beginner-friendly given the right light. Light is the critical factor
• Pet safety: Non-toxic to pets and humans

Good to Know

Light is the non-negotiable for an Olive Tree indoors it needs more sun than almost any other popular houseplant. A south-facing window or a sunny conservatory is ideal. Without sufficient light, the plant will survive but become leggy and sparse. Moving it outdoors in summer (once temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees F) dramatically improves its health and vigor. Pruning in spring encourages a dense, bushy shape rather than a leggy one.

For more care tips, visit our Plant Care Library.