How to Grow an Olive Tree Indoors or Outside—Even If You Don’t Live in the Mediterranean

Olive trees are native to the Mediterranean basin—Northern Africa, Western Asia, and Southeastern Europe—and have been beautifying gardens since antiquity. In addition to being beautiful and producing delicious briny fruits, these historic trees are also drought-tolerant, easily adaptable to different soil conditions, and can even thrive in containers.

The best part? You don’t need to travel abroad to enjoy these trees. You can grow one right at home. Depending on where you live, olive trees can survive in USDA growing zones 8 to 11, or year-round indoors in containers. Ahead, we break down everything you need to know about growing an olive tree, according to garden experts.

When to Plant an Olive Tree

The best time to plant an olive tree is in the spring, when the danger of frost has passed. “Young trees are quite sensitive to cold, so you don’t want them facing freezing weather their first winter,” says Harrison Meekins, M.S., grower specialist with Sun Gro Horticulture. March or April are considered the better times during spring to plant, when the weather is cool but stable. Just like winter, summer is also unfavorable for new olive tree plantings because extreme heat can negatively affect the tree. However, if you live in a mild climate, where winter lows stay above 30 degrees Fahrenheit, you can also plant in fall, but spring is always the safest, he adds.

How to Plant an Olive Tree

The easiest way to grow an olive tree is by purchasing an established one from a local nursery. Once you bring the tree home, follow these expert-approved steps for properly planting it in the ground.

1. Choose the right spot: Meekins recommends planting your olive tree in an area that receives at least eight hours of full sun daily. Avoid planting in any low areas where water collects.
2. Dig a hole: Dig a hole the same width as the rootball but slightly shallower, so the top of the rootball sits just above the soil line, says Meekins.
3. Plant the tree: Gently remove the tree from its pot. Untangle any circling roots but disturb the root ball as little as possible, he says. Place the tree in the hole, backfill with soil, and water thoroughly.
4. Control weeds: Keep weeds out of the area surrounding your olive tree. Aim for a 3-foot weed-free zone around the trunk, says Meekins. This will allow the tree to grow unencumbered by other plants. Apply mulch a few inches away from the bark.
5. Stake if necessary: If the tree flops, prune back top growth or loosely tie it to a stake until the tree matures and the trunk grows stronger.

How to Care for an Olive Tree

Follow these steps to ensure your olive tree thrives.

Water

Olive trees have minimal water requirements and are drought-tolerant once established. “For young trees, I recommend watering deeply once or twice a week in spring and summer,” says Meekins. “Mature trees can go up to four weeks between watering.” Regardless of age, let the soil dry out slightly before watering again.

Sunlight

Olive trees are heat-resistant and thrive in full sun. For optimal results, aim to give your olive tree eight hours of direct sunlight every day.

Soil

Olive trees prefer fertile, well-draining soil. However, Brian Flood, a garden expert and CEO of Moon Valley Nurseries, notes that these trees can tolerate poor, stony, and shallow soils, allowing them to be planted in a variety of landscapes.

Fertilizer

Olive trees aren’t heavy feeders. “But a balanced fertilizer with about 10 percent nitrogen in spring and mid-summer can help younger trees get established,” says Meekins. Fully mature olive trees typically do not require frequent fertilization. Be careful to avoid over-applying nitrogen, as it can encourage excessive foliage and delay fruit set, he warns.

Temperature

As Mediterranean plants, olive trees like hot, dry summers once established, and they enjoy cool but not severe winters. They prefer a temperature range of 50 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, but will survive as long as temperatures don’t dip below freezing. That said, there are cold-resistant varieties that can handle chillier weather. 

How to Prune an Olive Tree

Prune with restraint, experts warn. “Olives fruit on the previous year’s wood, so if you cut too hard, you’ll sacrifice your harvest,” says Meekins. Instead, thin the canopy lightly to let sunlight and air in and remove dead or diseased wood. For young trees, he recommends minimal shaping in the first four years, pruning just enough to establish a strong form. “The first few times you prune are the most important, because this will have the biggest impact on the tree’s shape and encourage additional branching.”

However, it’s also best to err on the side of caution by hiring an expert. “We recommend having a professional prune or trim your olive trees,” says Flood. This is because it’s best to tip-prune long olive tree branches at 30 to 36 inches during the first season to encourage additional branching, something an expert will know how to do.

Growing an Olive Tree in Containers

If you live in a colder climate, where olive trees can’t stay outside year-round, consider planting your tree in a container. Meekins recommends dwarf varieties, such as ‘Little Ollie,’ that stay compact, around 6 to 8 feet tall. “Container trees may not fruit as heavily, but they still make striking, Mediterranean-style specimens,” he says. To plant in containers, use a large pot with excellent drainage and a gritty potting mix such as cactus soil, and place the tree in the sunniest spot you have. This way, you can move the container indoors before winter freezes. “Keep in mind that container trees have limited root space compared to trees grown in soil, so more frequent watering may be required,” Meekins adds. 

Repotting an Olive Tree

Repot container-grown olive trees every two to three years to refresh the soil and give the roots more space. You will know when the tree is ready to be repotted because the roots will start to poke through the drainage hole, and the tree will require more frequent watering. Repot it in a container that is one or two sizes bigger than the current pot.

Common Pests and Diseases

The olive fruit fly is the most serious pest that you might face with olive trees. “Females lay eggs under the skin of the fruit, and the larvae can ruin an entire crop,” Meekins says. You can monitor this pest invasion with traps or seek help from pest professionals who know how to treat it.

Scale insects are another insect you may encounter, but Meekins says they are easily treated with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. “Just be sure not to apply any oils or soaps during times of extreme heat or before it rains, otherwise you will risk burning the tree or washing away the products you applied.”

Olive trees are also susceptible to black scale insects that weaken the tree. “Good sanitation, selective pruning, and, in some cases, horticultural oils or biological controls are effective ways to keep these problems in check.”

In terms of disease, verticillium wilt, a soil fungus that causes dieback, can sometimes be a problem with olive trees. Meekins says you can avoid this problem by not planting your tree in infected soil.