Olea 'Frantoio' (Olive Tree)

Olea 'Frantoio' (Olive Tree) Details

Olea ‘Frantoio’ is a variety of Olive tree grown in NZ gardens for its high yields of distinctively tasty fruit. It carries large fruit that are often squeezed to produce an oil with a distinct, pungent, yet fruity taste or they can be eaten fresh. The fruit are dark purple-black when mature in autumn and originate from white-cream flowers in summer. The foliage comprises grey-green leaves which are held on rigid branches. This evergreen tree typically grows to 3 m tall and the same wide, performing best when grown in full sun on a well-drained site. It is tolerant of extended dry periods, moderate frost, and cool climates, and some wind, though will benefit from protection while establishing. Olea ‘Frantoio’ is one of the more popular varieties of olive tree and is often grown for fruit production. It also makes for an impressive specimen and is useful for screening, using as a windbreak, or being trimming either into a hedge or for topiary. For an olive tree hedge, space the trees 75 cm to 1 m apart.