Olives101.com

The Olive is a smallish evergreen native to the areas around the Mediterranean Sea. It features small leaves and heavy wood, and has been cultivated by humans since ancient times for its fruit. The fruit of the Olive tree is edible, and the oil from pressed olives is used extensively in cooking, and was used in ancient times as a lubricant. The Spanish brought the Olive tree to the temperate areas of Mexico and to California, where it became a transplanted native tree – it grows wild in some places. In addition to being grown in orchards, the Olive tree is used extensively in landscaping in Mediterranean climates.

 

The first Olive bonsai were created in California in the 1950’s, and the first mention of them in the media is in the Sunset Bonsai book, either the first edition (1965) or the second edition (1976). Since then, the Olive has been a popular subject for bonsai in California and in Europe, with old stumps being dug up from landscapes and orchards, and massive specimens being collected from the wild in Europe.

 

Olive trees are stocked by most nurseries in California and Southern Europe. However, if you want an Olive with a massive trunk, you will either have to collect one or take a nursery specimen and thicken it in the ground. Olives propagate very easily from cuttings, so if you can find a mature tree, you can simply cut off some foliage and strike cuttings in mid spring. Watch for leaf size. Even within the single species of Olea Europa, leav size can vary from specimen to specimen, with some trees having much smaller leaves than others. You may hear some bonsai enthusiasts talking about “small leaf Olive” but this is another species which is native to South Africa. South African Olive does have much smaller leaves, but it does not have the rough bark of Olea Europa, and generally does not bear fruit when cultivated as a bonsai.

 

Fatten it up or chop it back. You can thicken an Olive in the ground or in a tub, but there is no need to put one in the ground. Olives do not mind being potbound. The larger you let an Olive grow, the faster it will thicken. Once your Olive reaches the desired thickness, you can chop it back and begin choosing branches for your bonsai.

 

Olives are not too particular about their soil, but they seem to like it on the sandy side. The author’s usual mix of potting soil, decomposed granite, pumice and sand works well, but Olives are more like Junipers than broadleaf trees in their soil preferences.

 

The Olive is one tree that will thank you for putting it in the brightest, sunniest part of your yard. Olives love the sun and they love hot weather, but make sure your Olive has plenty of water. Dry soil will not kill an Olive, at least not for a while, but insufficient moisture will sure stop an Olive from growing.

 

Olive can be shaped into just about any bonsai style, from broom, to the various upright and group styles, to a full cascade, and just about every style is appropriate for it because it is such a versatile tree and it is capable of surviving in a variety of hostile environments. You should only prune an Olive during warm weather, while they are in active growth. If you prune one in winter or early spring, or during a cold spell, the tree will not issue growth, and it may die back. You are generally better off shaping an Olive by clip and grow, and wiring should only be used on young trees or young growth. Old Olive wood becomes brittle, and will snap easily if you try to bend it, so move older Olive branches with great care.

 

Olive bonsai are easy to care for. Olive trees make wonderful, charming bonsai, they can even have deadwood features, and they will even bear fruit if given the right growing conditions. An Olive tree makes a wonderful addition to your bonsai collection.

 

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