The olive tree has been a prized commodity to the Mediterranean region and it’s people for 8000 years. Not only has the olive tree been the symbol of peace in Hebrew and Christian religion for centuries, the olive tree’s beauty has motivated artists through the ages. Olive images are found on ancient Greek vases, Etruscan friezes, Impressionist paintings and modern textiles.
The beauty of the olive tree is also inspiring landscape design all over the world.
In my experience with international customers, I can say that the olive tree is one of the most loved plants and is undoubtedly at the top of the requests for use in the composition of a garden. – Alice Collantoni, garden and landscape design architect
Images: Houzz.com
In Tuscany, an olive grove is the popular choice for large properties, the request for an olive grove is often motivated for the aesthetic appeal and not only for oil production. According to Callantoni, “The olive grove is a must, when it is not possible to include a plantation in the project, a unique plant, secular if possible, is individually planted as a ‘totem’ of the house.”
The single olive tree is usually associated with plants of the Mediterranean scrub, like rosemary, broom, lentisque and myrtle,” Collantoni explained. It can be disposed on a pre-existent hill or a high ground can be created with earthmoving to adapt to the landscape. “Thanks to build-ups and depressions, the olive tree provides the focus of the garden, a landmark with a practical use thanks to the shade that it provides during the warmer months. – Alice Collantoni
The most used variety is Leccino for the great resistance to pathogens combined with its aesthetic qualities, but some customers prefer cultivars for table olives, like Ascolana, Bella di Spagna and Santa Caterina, due to the visual impact of their larger fruits.
Images: Houzz.com
While most commonly grown in Mediterranean climates, it is possible to have olive trees almost anywhere. London’s Kew Botanical Garden has an olive tree that bears fruit a few fruit on occasion. In Paris, France, many hotels and restaurants have potted olive trees near the front entrance. Several people have reported having grown olive trees in New York City and Chicago, where they are wrapped and covered for winter protection or even buried horizontally in the ground for the winter, to be resurrected in the spring. Olive trees can be grown outdoors without winter protection in areas where winter temperatures do not fall below 23 degrees F.
In South African soil olive trees thrive. There are a number of places that sell small potted olive trees for indoor purposes as well as nurseries that sell different cultivars to be planted yourself, outdoors or indoors.
See more about how to grow your own olive tree here.
Sources: http://olivetreegrowers.com/olivetrees.php
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