Olea Europaea Subsp.. Cuspidata Wild Olive "Olienhout" 40Liter

Common Names: Wild Olive, Olienhout, African Olive

📌 Product Description

Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata, commonly known as Wild Olive or Olienhout, is a hardy indigenous evergreen tree valued for its attractive grey-green foliage and strong, durable growth. The leaves are leathery with a silvery underside, giving the tree a soft, muted appearance in the landscape.

This slow to moderate-growing tree develops a dense, rounded canopy and produces small creamy-white flowers in spring, followed by small black fruits that attract birds. Its tough wood and resilience make it a long-lived and reliable feature in South African gardens.

Highly adaptable and drought tolerant once established, Wild Olive is widely used as a shade tree, screening plant, or structural feature in indigenous and water-wise landscapes.

📏 Size When Fully Grown

Height: 6 – 10 m
Spread: 4 – 8 m
Growth Habit: Evergreen tree with dense rounded canopy
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate

🌱 Best Growing Conditions

Light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Well-draining soil; adaptable to sandy, loamy, or rocky soils
Water:

• Water regularly during establishment
• Highly drought tolerant once established
• Avoid prolonged waterlogging

Feeding: Apply compost in spring if required.

Maintenance:

• Very low maintenance
• Can be pruned to shape or used as a hedge when young
• Long-lived and resilient

🌦️ Planting & Growing Season (South Africa)

Best Planting Time: Spring or early summer
Active Growth: Spring and summer
Flowering Season: Spring
Climate Suitability: Suitable for most South African regions
Frost Tolerance: Tolerates moderate frost

🌼 Additional Benefits

• Indigenous South African tree
• Drought tolerant
• Attracts birds
• Strong, durable wood
• Excellent long-term shade tree

🌿 Ideal Uses

✔ Shade tree
✔ Indigenous gardens
✔ Screening and windbreaks
✔ Feature landscape tree
✔ Water-wise gardens