The Wild Olive is one of South Africa’s most treasured indigenous trees, known for its timeless beauty and resilience. Its silvery-green leaves and rugged trunk add instant character to gardens, while its drought tolerance makes it a dependable choice for the Western Cape. Best planted in full sun, this evergreen tree grows slowly but steadily into a long-lived garden feature. It thrives in coastal and dry conditions and can also be pruned into a neat hedge or trained for use in a large pot.
The wild olive has beautiful wood for furniture making. Has many medicinal uses.
Celebrate South Africa’s natural heritage with the Wild Olive, a resilient evergreen tree with glossy grey‑green foliage and a dense, spreading crown. Flowering with sprays of tiny, lightly scented white to greenish blooms from October to February, it produces small purple‑black fruits from March to July, loved by birds and wildlife. Perfect for shade, screening, windbreaks, and ornamental landscaping, the Wild Olive is highly adaptable, tolerating drought, frost, and coastal winds once established.
The Wild Olive should be planted in full sun or semi‑shade in well‑drained soil, ideally during autumn or winter when conditions are cooler and rainfall helps establishment. Water regularly during the first two years to encourage strong root growth, then reduce watering as the tree matures since it becomes highly drought‑tolerant. Pruning is minimal, usually just to shape the crown or remove crossing branches, and the tree responds well to light trimming. With its slow growth and hardy nature, the Wild Olive is a long‑lived, low‑maintenance choice that thrives in Cape Town’s climate while providing shade, shelter, and food for birds.
The Wild Olive is a protected tree in parts of South Africa and has been used for centuries in traditional medicine. Its dense, golden‑brown wood is prized for furniture and carving, while its fruits and leaves have been used in remedies for blood pressure, kidney function, and sore throats. Birds such as starlings, pigeons, and parrots feed on its fruit, making it a valuable ecological tree.
| Botanical Name |
Olea Africana
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Growth Expectancy
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6m+ H x 6m+ W
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Position
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Sun
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| Waterwise | Yes |
| Indigenous | Yes |
