Olive

Homer called olive oil ‘liquid gold’, Thomas Jefferson – ‘a gift from heaven’.

Olive trees (Olea europaea) have long represented wealth, abundance, power and peace.

Grown for their fruit in the Mediterranean for over 5000 years, the ancient Greeks and Romans revered their olive groves. They believed olive oil brought youth and strength. In ancient Greece, athletes ritually rubbed it over their bodies.

Did you know?
This evergreen tree is slow to mature but can live for hundreds of years.
The fleshy fruits have to be processed before they are eaten.
Green olives are unripe, black olives are ripe and less bitter.

Back up to: temperate house plants

On to: Island Flora