Olea europaea (olive)

This species is widely distributed across the Mediterranean region, Africa and Asia.

Kew's Millennium Seed Bank Partnership aims to save plant life world wide, focusing on plants under threat and those of most use in the future. Seeds are dried, packaged and stored at a sub-zero temperature in our seed bank vault.

Number of seed collections stored in the Millennium Seed Bank: 11.
Seed storage behaviour: Published literature compiled in the Seed Information Database (SID) indicate that this species’ seeds survive drying to low moisture content and cooling to sub zero temperatures; and are thus amenable to long-term storage in facilities such as the Millennium Seed Bank. However, survival in storage may be quite short, and more research is needed.
Germination testing: Collections so far tested at the MSB have failed to pass germination tests; however seeds remaining at the end of the tests are healthy, indicating dormancy rather than low viability; and work is continuing to establish appropriate dormancy-breaking treatments.
Composition values: Oil content 1 - 41.9%

A line of olive trees at Pont du Gard in southern France (Image: Peter Gasson)

Young olive plants are grown from seed in the Arboretum Nursery. It has been noted that germination is spasmodic, taking from a few weeks to a few months. The compost used as a growing medium is an open, gritty, free-draining mix.

The seedlings are pricked out into ‘air pots’. Air pots prevent the plants from becoming pot-bound by encouraging the roots to grow outwards rather than spiralling. Planting out into the required position in the garden can be carried out straight from the air pot. The glasshouse zone in which the seedlings are grown is kept at a minimum temperature of 5 ˚C. Only natural light is provided. The young plants are well watered and not allowed to dry out.

Many of the trees growing in the Mediterranean Garden are over 100 years old, having survived transplantation whilst mature to provide instant impact. These trees were sourced from a nursery in northern Italy, which purchases them from land-owners when they need to remove or replace them, and hence ensures a longer life for these trees.
 

One of the Olea europaea specimens kept in the Herbarium at Kew (Image: RBG Kew)

The oldest of Kew's more than seven million herbarium specimens is a wreath of folded olive leaves, which was found in the sarcophagus of King Tutankhamun. This well-preserved olive wreath is over 3,300 years old. The Herbarium is one of the behind-the-scenes areas of Kew, where plant specimens are made available to bona fide researchers by appointment.

In the summer of 2006 several mature trees were planted in a newly landscaped Mediterranean setting. These included specimens of cork oak (Quercus suber), stone pine (Pinus pinea) and an olive (Olea europaea). Tony Hall, who manages this collection, notes that olives respond well to the sandy, free-draining soil at Kew. In the winter of 2008 they survived snow, frost and temperatures of -7 ˚C. So far, flowers and small fruits have been observed, but ripening of the fruits has yet to occur at Kew.

In the Temperate House there is a very fine specimen of Olea europaea, which is over 150 years old.

Marianne North painting of Study of Olives, painted in Italy - find out how you can sponsor a painting by Marianne North.

ePic results for Olea europaea.

More information on Olea europaea on the Rhizotron & Xstrata Treetop Walkway pages.

View the type specimens for Olea europaea here.

Information on the African olive (Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata, formerly known as Olea europaea subsp. africana) can be found on SEPASAL.