Garden Plant: Mission Olive Tree
Mission Olive Tree
Product Description: Mission Olive Tree
Handsome, Delicious, Hardy Mission Olive Tree
- Wonderful Fruit to Brine or Press for Oil
- One of the Hardiest Olive Varieties
- Attractive Specimen
- Drought Tolerant
- Widely Adaptable
- Fragrant Spring Flowers
- Mid Season Fruiting Time
This useful tree is on a mission to become your most prized specimen. The classic Mission Olive Tree (Olea europaea \’Mission’) is handsome, self-fruiting, easy to grow and perfect for both olive oil and curing for table olives.
The Mission Olive Tree is a secret weapon of some of the most skilled landscape artists. Why? It offers classic Tuscan or Spanish looks, adapts well to a wide range of soils and can survive temperatures down to 8 degrees Fahrenheit while keeping its delightful foliage. In addition, once established Mission is one of the most drought tolerant plants known.
This go-to specimen can be grown with a wide but low canopy creating the traditional look of an Olive tree. Or, you can choose to grow it as a strongly branched, vase-shaped tree.
The olive takes to pruning quite well. If you choose, it can be grown as a topiary in almost any fashion you desire.
This tree is adored for its unique ability to remain attractive with a slight asymmetric flair. Home gardeners appreciate the weathered light gray bark and gray-green foliage that comes as the Mission Olive Trees reach maturity.
Though prized for its table olive quality, the Mission Olive Tree’s fruit also makes a divine oil that lasts longer than most home-grown varieties with a shelf-life of up to two years. And when it comes to flavor, these olives won’t let you down. Mission olives have a unique fruity flavor and scent. The fruit and oil pairs well with fish, chicken, or as a dip for freshly baked bread.
These medium olives can grow up to an inch-and-a-half and turn deep eggplant purple when mature. While the dark fruit is popular, the Mission is also harvested for it green fruit which is known for its wonderful, mild grassy flavor both in cured table olives and pressed to oil.
Mission Olive makes an ideal container tree and can really add a spot of classic design to a focal point in the garden when on a decorative pot. The plant can be brought into protection in colder climates and overwintered. Make sure it has plenty of winter sunlight and is not subject to a dry location close to an indoor heat source or vent. Decrease water during the winter months.
Like other olive trees, the Mission olive like a full sun location and is not fussy about soil at all. Select a location where the olives can drop without landing on patios, walks or driveways as the fruit will stain.
For an easy harvest, simply place a sheet below your Olive tree and use a stick to lightly knock your olives to the ground.
Olive trees are long-lived; it is not uncommon to find trees 200 years old or older. If you want to invest in a tree that can live over 150 years, you need a Mission Olive Tree. This specimen is ready to gift your yard with its strong and attractive presence and gift your table with tasty olives.
With fragrant spring flowers, and great looks all year, the bountiful Mission Olive is a delight.