When landscaping with olive trees, oftentimes one beautiful specimen is all it takes to add sculptural drama to your outdoor space. A single olive tree can become the focal point of a courtyard garden or terrace, or add the wow factor to a container display.
There are so many different ways you can grow and care for an olive tree, whether it be as multi-stem varieties with twisting trunks, as a hedge plant, or used to frame a sun-drenched front porch, these trees cannot fail to bring a sophisticated and refined feel to a yard.
Olives are synonymous with hotter climates and Mediterranean gardens, and have become a staple in recent years in LA-based celebrity gardens, such as that of Khloe Kardashian, for their elegant silvery-green hues, slender leaves and resilience to drought.
10 inspirational approaches for landscaping with olive trees
Whether you prefer a modern and minimal style or something more classic and traditional, olive trees are a versatile, elegant addition and are very easy to grow.
Olive trees are particularly useful during periods of extreme heat and dryness. They are extremely tough and can withstand searing heat, drought, fire and temperatures as low as -7°C for short periods.
Sometimes overlooked as one of the options for landscaping with evergreens as they're not the most obvious choice, here are 10 ways you can add an olive or two to your yard.
1. Make an olive tree the star of your container display
Olive trees do well in pots as part of your container garden ideas. And they look particularly attractive when paired with other Mediterranean garden favorites, such as fragrant herbs (rosemary, sage, oregano and thyme), as well as salvia and lavender.
When you buy an olive tree, pot it on into a larger pot, preferably terracotta rather than plastic for an elevated aesthetic, and use a loam-based compost mixed with 20% horticultural grit to improve the drainage.
Place your olive tree in a sunny position, keep the soil moist during the growing season, and feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month. In winter, you can reduce watering but don't allow the compost to dry out completely. You can also prune your olive tree to keep it in shape – our guide explains how.
This set of three handmade terracotta planters add a rustic feel to patios and container gardens.
2. Stage an olive tree as a focal point
Olives are one of the best trees for small gardens as they will create an interesting and curvaceous silhouette without growing too big.
'Olive trees are a distinctive focal point that can anchor a courtyard design or kitchen garden,' says Rachel Bull, Head of Gardens at Homes & Gardens. 'The contorted branches of an olive tree will act like a sculpture, focusing attention and drawing you in through a space. I had a potted olive surrounded by lavender and decorative pebbles in the centre of my small front yard in our previous home. It gave instant curb appeal and grew beautifully, producing delicate black olives every year - they were inedible but still looked lovely.
'It may take several years before you can get a focal specimen to the size you want it, but if you're able to plant one in the ground, once established it will put on plenty of growth each year.'
3. Create a smart statement on your porch
Flanking a porch with a pair of planters featuring clipped topiary is a design classic but one that's become even more desirable recently. Why? Our porches have become places to hang out and relax in, rather than just pass through. It looks like the trend is here to stay too, with a 150% increase in requests for 'functional front yards', according to the US-based landscape design company Yardzen.
Add a pair of lollipop olive trees in stylish wicker baskets. Squeeze in a slimline bench, too, as part of your front yard landscaping ideas, so you can sit and enjoy the vibe. You can find potted olive trees available from Walmart.
4. Work up a look for a courtyard garden
A sunny, south-facing outdoor patio or courtyard garden is the perfect spot for growing an olive tree.
Olive trees are tougher than you think, but try and choose a sunny, sheltered, well-drained position. It's advisable to plant one in spring, after the risk of frost has passed, but before the end of mid-summer to give the tree plenty of time to establish before the following winter.
A great way to secure more sun for your olive tree, as well as draw attention to it, is by planting it in a raised bed. Varieties that thrive in courtyard conditions include 'Arbequina' with a weeping habit that's ideal for small gardens, and 'Cipressino' – a vigorous tree that grows in an upright fashion.
5. Include an olive tree in your front yard design
Low maintenance front yard ideas are always best for enhancing a space that's on show 24/7.
A statement olive tree like this one will slot into the mix perfectly. Go large and let the tree do its own thing for a different take on the smart, clipped look that's so often seen in front garden design.
Another idea for landscaping with olive trees for front yards is planting a small row of them against a fence. This works in the same way as shrubs do, helping to soften the boundary while at the same time adding interest with shape, color and texture.
6. Light up an olive tree at night
This roof terrace in Kensington, London was installed over a newly-built extension and features some stunning planted-up containers. Several large, hand-carved clay pots were planted with mature olive trees, and LED lights were placed inside each one to turn them into statement pieces.
'I used spike lights in each pot to wash up the trellis and illuminate these mature olive trees and pick out their gnarly trunks,' explains the garden's designer Jonathan Snow. Any fabulously-textured trunks are well worth spotlighting as part of your outdoor tree lighting ideas. Our guide has all the information you need on how to uplight a tree effectively.
7. Choose a potted olive tree for your patio
Landscaping with olive trees is a good choice if you're looking for new deck or patio ideas. They will grow in a neat, compact shape so don't take up too much room. Plus, they don't shed many leaves or other plant debris.
Some olive tree varieties like 'Majestic Beauty' are non-fruiting, so these are the ones to go for, especially if you have wooden decking. But remember, too, that you need to live in a very hot climate to get a usable crop from your tree anyway.
8. Squeeze an olive tree into a balcony garden
If you're looking for balcony garden ideas, the roof garden pictured above is a modern, minimalist green space with dense planting that helps to bring a sense of calm to the terrace. It shows that even the smallest balcony can be turned into a lush space with the right planting.
Well-placed olive trees in sturdy containers are used here to block distant buildings. They also help to add a sense of seclusion. The look is softened by underplanting the olive trees with a froth of Mexican fleabane.
'Olive trees are fantastically versatile, but we tend to use them most when designing a roof garden,' says John Wyer, CEO at Bowles & Wyer. 'Roof terraces are much more extreme environments than gardens on terra firma, but olives can survive this fairly radical exposure. Our only advice is to beware the "windsail" effect of trees and ensure the containers are sufficiently sized to stop them blowing over.'
There are lots more ideas for the best trees to grow in pots in our guide, including smaller varieties that are ideal for compact spaces.
The rustic feel of this cauldron planter complements Mediterranean planting perfectly. It's made from durable materials, making it appropriate for indoor and outdoor use.
9. Consider a statement olive tree or two
Larger, mature olive trees will happily take center stage where there is plenty of space to show them off. They are also a good fit with other Mediterranean-inspired design projects – think landscaping with pebbles or landscaping with gravel – as well as naturally slotting alongside water feature ideas.
This project by Austin Design Works in the beautiful Cotswold countryside in England is situated in a flood zone with saturated ground in the winter. The statuesque olive trees were planted in raised borders, surrounded by river cobbles, and interplanted with thyme and agapanthus, which is the perfect solution for this type of environment.
FAQs
Where is the best place to put an olive tree?
There's lots of choice when it comes to the best place to plant olive trees. The main point to consider is that you need to plant your olive tree where it will get a minimum of 6-8 hours of sun per day, but preferably full sun all day. In addition to this, choose a site with well-drained soil.
What can you plant around olive trees?
If you want easy ideas for what to plant around olive trees, go for its all-time favorite companion plant by landscaping with lavender, which will add a layer of color and scent. The two will combine to create a magical, Mediterranean-inspired design.
Companion plants for landscaping with olive trees need to have the same water needs, soil considerations (light and free draining), and love of the sun. Choose plants that have these same requirements and they will all sit happily together.
Another lovely approach is to surround them with herb garden ideas, such as thyme, dill, oregano and fennel. You could also try Mediterranean shrubs like santolina, or combine them with ornamental grasses for a natural, unstructured look.
Despite loving the sun and warmth, olives are really resilient trees and as long as you know how to care and protect an olive tree in winter from the harshest weather, it will do just fine. Plus, you can also grow a potted olive tree indoors, where it will be easier to mimic their natural Mediterranean habitat.
