Olea 'Mission' (Olive Tree)

Olea 'Mission' (Olive Tree) Details

Olea ‘Mission’ is a variety of Olive tree grown for its high yields of medium sized fruit. The fruit are often squeezed to produce an oil with a distinct, sweet taste or they can be eaten fresh. They 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 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 ‘Mission’ is one of the more popular olive varieties and is often grown for fruit production. It also makes for an impressive specimen tree in a NZ garden and is useful for screening, using as a windbreak, or being trimming either into a hedge or for topiary. For an olive hedge, space the plant 75 cm to 1 m apart.