Olive Trees

As Winter Light Turns Thin, Olive Still Glows Softly, Keeping The Garden Feeling Alive When Most Plants Retreat.

Evergreen Elegance With Silvery Colour

Olive is one of those plants that brings instant polish. The leaves are narrow and grey-green, with a silvery underside that catches the light and makes planting look calmer and more intentional. In UK gardens, that colour is especially valuable through winter, when bright greens can feel a bit flat and borders are often bare. Whether it’s in a pot by the front door or as a focal point on a sunny patio, an olive gives structure without shouting, and it seems to suit almost any style — from modern gravel to relaxed cottage planting.

Evergreen Elegance With Silvery Colour
Perfect For Pots And Sunny Courtyards
Tough, Drought-Tolerant, And Surprisingly Adaptable

Olive Trees at a Glance:

Common name: Olive tree.

Latin name: Olea europaea.

Size in UK gardens: Often 1.5–3m in pots over time; can reach 4–6m in the ground in the warmest, most sheltered spots, but usually kept smaller with pruning.

Best position: Full sun in a sheltered, warm spot — ideal by a south or south-west facing wall.

Soil: Free-draining soil; dislikes heavy, waterlogged winter ground.

Main interest: Evergreen silvery foliage, sculptural trunk with age, and occasional flowers/fruit in good summers.

Fragrance: Flowers can be lightly scented, but usually subtle.

Hardiness: Reasonably hardy once established, but young plants and pot-grown roots need protection in severe cold.

Care level: Low to moderate – easy if kept sunny and well-drained; occasional pruning keeps it tidy.

Sun & Shelter Advice for Olive Trees:

☀️ Best light: Olive wants full sun — the brightest spot you have. Sun keeps growth compact, foliage silver and healthy, and gives you the best chance of flowers and fruit in warm summers.

☀️ Shelter and walls: A warm wall makes a noticeable difference, holding heat and cutting wind. In Cambridgeshire and across East Anglia, where cold winds can bite, a sheltered courtyard or south-facing wall helps olives look cleaner through winter.

☀️ What to avoid: Avoid deep shade and exposed, wind-tunnel positions where leaves can scorch and pots dry unevenly. Most importantly, avoid cold, boggy ground that stays wet in winter — olives hate sitting damp at the roots.

☀️ Where to plant: A pot on a sunny patio, by the front door, or beside outdoor seating is ideal. If planting in the ground, choose the warmest, most protected spot and keep it away from low, frost-prone dips.

Soil Requirements for Olive Trees:

🪏 Preferred soil type: Olive prefers free-draining soil — gritty, open and never waterlogged. In the ground, a light loam is great; in pots, a loam-based compost with added grit works beautifully.

🪏 Soil pH and health: Olives are generally tolerant, coping with neutral to alkaline soils if drainage is good. Yellowing leaves can be a sign of waterlogged roots or nutrient lock-up; improving drainage and adding a spring feed usually helps.

🪏 Improving tricky spots: Heavy clay or very light soils both benefit from preparation before planting.

• On clay, improve drainage with plenty of organic matter and some grit, and consider planting on a slight mound so water moves away from the root zone in winter.

• On thin, sandy or rubble-rich soils, add organic matter to hold moisture and nutrients, or grow olive in a large container with a suitable compost mix if the ground is very poor.

Olive Tree Hardiness:

🍃 General hardiness: Olive is hardy enough for many UK gardens, especially in milder, sheltered spots, and it stays evergreen through winter. In a normal Cambridgeshire winter, it usually comes through fine, just slowing down and holding its colour.

🍃 Cold and foliage damage: Once established, olives can cope with temperatures around -8°C to -10°C for short spells, but severe cold can scorch leaves and damage young growth. The biggest risk is often the roots in pots, which freeze faster than roots in the ground.

🍃 In cooler or exposed spots: A few simple steps keep olives happier in tougher winters.

• Choose the warmest, most sheltered position you can.

• Mulch the base in autumn to protect roots and improve soil.

• Use fleece on very cold nights, and focus on protecting the pot and root zone first.

Garden Uses for Olive Trees:

Evergreen Structure In Pots And Courtyards: Olive is a natural for containers, giving height and shape without taking up much ground space. It suits patios, courtyards and front gardens where you want year-round presence.

Silvery Foliage In Mixed Planting: The grey-green leaves soften brighter greens and make flower colours look richer. It’s especially good with gravel planting, herbs, and drought-tolerant perennials in sunny borders.

As A Focal Point By Seating: Placed near a bench or outdoor table, an olive changes the feel of the space — calmer, more sheltered, more “finished”. With age, the trunk becomes part of the ornament.

Warming Up Walls And Sun Traps: Against a sunny wall, olive looks completely at home and benefits from reflected heat. This is often the best place for it to stay tidy and flower more reliably.

Smart, Low-Fuss Front Garden Tree: In a pot by the door or along a sunny path, olive gives instant structure and a slightly architectural look. It’s a great choice where you want a tree-like presence without heavy shade.

Wildlife Benefits of Olive Trees:

🐝 Occasional Nectar In Warm Springs: Olive flowers are small and not always produced in the UK, but in warm, sheltered years they can provide a modest food source for pollinating insects.

🐦‍⬛ Perches And Shelter Near Patios: The branching structure offers perching and light cover, especially when grown as a small standard in a pot. It’s not a major wildlife tree, but it contributes to garden structure.

🕷 A Calm Habitat In The Canopy: Evergreen foliage and twiggy branching give small insects and spiders a place to live year-round. That quiet background life supports the wider garden balance, particularly in mixed planting.

Our Team!

Grown Locally By Us.

Rather than travelling halfway across Europe, our mimosa trees are grown on site by the Simpson’s team. They’re toughened to local conditions, properly potted, and ready to get growing the moment you plant them.

Olive Tree Care at a Glance:

Planting time: As container-grown plants, olives can be planted in most months when the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged; spring and early autumn are usually easiest.

Watering: Water regularly while establishing; once settled, olives are drought-tolerant but look best with occasional deep watering in dry spells.

Feeding: A light spring feed and a yearly mulch help; pot-grown olives benefit from a little more regular feeding in the growing season.

Pruning: Minimal — trim lightly to shape and remove any dead or crossing branches, usually in late spring or summer.

Winter: Protect pot-grown roots in hard frosts; shelter from cold winds helps prevent leaf scorch.

How to Plant an Olive Tree:

1. Prepare the hole: Dig a hole about twice as wide as the pot and just deep enough for the rootball to sit at the same level as it was in the container. If planting near a wall, leave space for airflow and access for watering.

2. Loosen the soil: Fork over the base and sides so roots can spread easily into the surrounding ground rather than circling.

3. Improve poor or heavy soil: Add well-rotted compost to improve fertility, and add grit if the soil is heavy. In slow-draining ground, plant slightly proud or on a low mound so water runs away from the roots.

4. Set the plant in place: Slide the olive from its pot, tease out any tight roots gently, and position it upright. Keep the rootball intact and avoid planting too deep.

5. Backfill and firm: Backfill with your improved soil, firming gently so the tree is stable without compacting the soil into a hard pan.

6. Support if required: A young olive in the ground may benefit from a discreet stake in windy gardens. In pots, a heavy container often provides enough stability on its own.

7. Water and mulch: Water thoroughly, then mulch lightly around the base, keeping mulch away from the trunk. Mulch helps regulate moisture and protects roots.

8. Aftercare in the first season: Water during dry spells, keep the base weed-free, and avoid overwatering in cool weather — olives prefer slightly drier conditions than most.

Watering & Feeding Olive Trees:

💧 Establishing young plants: In the first season, water deeply when the top few centimetres of soil are dry. A steady start helps olives root properly, especially in sunny, breezy East Anglian weather.

💧 Once established: Olives are drought-tolerant, but in prolonged dry spells they look fresher with an occasional thorough soak. Let the soil dry a little between waterings rather than keeping it constantly damp.

💧 Deep vs light watering: Deep watering encourages strong roots and more stable growth. Light, frequent sprinkles can leave roots shallow and increase stress in hot spells.

💧 Feeding routine: A light feed in spring supports healthy leaf colour and steady growth. In the ground, a spring mulch often does most of the work; in pots, a balanced feed through the growing season helps.

🪴 Plants in pots: Pots dry faster and wash nutrients out more quickly, so check moisture more often in summer. Use a free-draining compost mix, water when the top feels dry, and feed lightly from spring into mid-summer for the best colour and growth.

Pruning Advice for Olive Trees:

✂️ Natural habit: Olive naturally makes a neat, rounded crown or an airy, slightly irregular shape. It doesn’t need heavy pruning — just a little editing to keep it balanced and open.

✂️ Best time to prune: Late spring into summer is ideal, once the worst cold has passed. Avoid hard pruning in winter, especially in colder areas, as fresh cuts are more vulnerable.

✂️ What to remove: Take out dead, damaged or crossing branches, and thin a little to let light and air into the centre. Remove any shoots growing from the base if you want a clean trunk.

✂️ Keeping it young and tidy: Light shaping each year keeps olives compact and smart, especially in pots. Think “little and often” — a gentle trim to maintain form rather than a big cut-back.

Winter Protection Tips for Olive Trees:

❄️ Typical winters: In a normal UK winter, established olives usually cope well, staying evergreen and simply slowing down. A sheltered spot keeps foliage looking cleaner and reduces wind scorch.

❄️ Colder or exposed spots: In harder winters, protect from cold winds and focus on the roots. Mulch around the base, and use fleece in sharp cold snaps, especially for younger trees and freshly planted olives.

🪴 Plants in pots:

• Move pots closer to the house or into a sheltered corner during hard frosts.

• Wrap the pot to protect roots, as containers freeze faster than open ground.

• Check drainage holes so the compost doesn’t sit cold and waterlogged, and water sparingly through winter.

Olive Tree Pests & Diseases:

🌱 General health: Olive is generally robust in UK gardens when given sun and excellent drainage. Most issues come from too much winter wet or too little light, rather than anything inherently troublesome.

🪲 Common minor pests: Scale insects can appear on sheltered plants, and occasionally aphids on soft new growth. Small infestations can often be wiped off, pruned out, or controlled naturally by encouraging beneficial insects.

🍂 Disease risks: Problems are usually linked to damp, stagnant conditions — root issues from waterlogging are more common than leaf diseases. Good airflow, sun and dry feet prevent most trouble.

🍂 Normal vs worrying changes: Some older leaves yellow and drop naturally as new growth appears — that’s normal. Worry more if lots of leaves yellow at once, growth stalls, or the compost stays wet and smells sour, which can point to drainage trouble.

🌱 Simple prevention: Give olives full sun, keep the soil free-draining, water at the base, and avoid overwatering in cool weather. In pots, refresh the top layer of compost and check drainage regularly.

Varieties We Usually Stock

Availability is always changing, so please check with us if you have a particular variety in mind.

Acer campestre

Acer campestre 'Elsrijk'

Acer campestre 'Queen Elizabeth'

Acer campestre 'Carnival'

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, in many UK gardens olives do very well, especially when they’re in a sunny, sheltered spot. The tree itself is reasonably hardy, but it’s cold wind and wet roots that cause most problems. If you can give it full sun and free-draining soil, it will usually come through winter without fuss. Pot-grown olives need a little extra care because the roots are more exposed — moving the pot into a sheltered corner and wrapping it in cold spells can make a big difference. Think “sun and dry feet”, and you’re most of the way there.

A pot is often the easiest option in the UK, especially in smaller gardens or on heavier soils. Containers let you control drainage, place the tree in maximum sun, and move it to shelter in severe cold. Planting in the ground can work beautifully in warm, sheltered gardens with free-draining soil, and it can lead to stronger long-term growth. The decision usually comes down to your soil and your microclimate: if you have clay or a cold, exposed site, a pot is typically the safer, tidier choice.

Sometimes — but it’s best to think of olives as a bonus rather than the main reason to grow the tree. In warm summers, especially in sheltered south-facing positions, olives can flower and set fruit, and some seasons you may even get a small harvest. Cooler, wetter summers often reduce flowering and ripening. Even without fruit, the tree is still worth having for its silvery evergreen foliage and structure. If you want to improve your chances, give full sun, shelter, and avoid overfeeding with high nitrogen.

Olives like a steady start, then a drier rhythm. In the first year, water deeply when the top few centimetres of soil dry out, especially during warm spells. Once established, olives cope well with drought, but they still look fresher if you give an occasional thorough soak in prolonged dry weather. The key is not to keep them constantly damp — especially in cool seasons. In pots, you’ll water more often, because compost dries quickly; always let excess water drain away, and never leave the pot sitting in a saucer of water for long.

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Olive Trees

As Winter Light Turns Thin, Olive Still Glows Softly, Keeping The Garden Feeling Alive When Most Plants Retreat.

Evergreen Elegance With Silvery Colour

Olive Trees at a Glance:

Sun & Shelter Advice for Olive Trees:

Soil Requirements for Olive Trees:

Olive Tree Hardiness:

Garden Uses for Olive Trees:

Wildlife Benefits of Olive Trees:

Grown Locally By Us.

Olive Tree Care at a Glance:

How to Plant an Olive Tree:

Watering & Feeding Olive Trees:

Pruning Advice for Olive Trees:

Winter Protection Tips for Olive Trees:

Olive Tree Pests & Diseases:

Varieties We Usually Stock

Acer campestre

Acer campestre 'Elsrijk'

Acer campestre 'Queen Elizabeth'

Acer campestre 'Carnival'

Frequently Asked Questions

Since 1987

Tree Specialists

UK-Grown

Family-Owned

Olive Trees

As Winter Light Turns Thin, Olive Still Glows Softly, Keeping The Garden Feeling Alive When Most Plants Retreat.

Evergreen Elegance With Silvery Colour

Olive Trees at a Glance:

Grown Locally By Us.

Olive Tree Care at a Glance:

Varieties We Usually Stock

Acer campestre

Acer campestre 'Elsrijk'

Acer campestre 'Queen Elizabeth'

Acer campestre 'Carnival'

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Olive Trees Survive UK Winters?

Should I Grow An Olive Tree In A Pot Or In The Ground?

Will My Olive Tree Produce Olives In The UK?

How Often Should I Water An Olive Tree?

Since 1987

Tree Specialists

UK-Grown

Family-Owned