Olea Europaea Olive on trunk - Olea

Olive, Olea Europe

Origin and care

The Olea europea or the Olive Tree originates from the areas around the Mediterranean Sea and is one of the oldest cultivated crops in Europe.

De Olijf produces olive fruits that lend themselves very well to the production of oils and foodstuffs .

Older olive trees develop a gnarled, deeply grooved trunk and a lush, silvery crown. In young olive trees the trunk is still smooth and gray but every year it becomes darker, gnarled and more curved. The leaves are always green and are renewed every three years.

The olive is hardy and there are even specimens of more than 2000 years old.

From April to June, small white blossoms hang in clusters from the branches of the olive tree. These blossoms spread a sweet and pleasant fragrance.

The Olive Tree is often given as a gift on festive occasions such as marriage, birth, etc.
The Dutch climate is suitable for the olive and in warm summers the plant can even produce fruit.