Do Olives Grow on Vines? Uncovering the Truth About Olive Trees
Olives are one of the most iconic fruits in the world, synonymous with the Mediterranean climate and cuisine. Their rich, oily texture makes them perfect for eating on their own or for producing olive oil. But where exactly do olives come from? Do they grow on vines like grapes, or is their growth process entirely different?
In this article, we’ll uncover the truth about how olives grow, looking at the full life cycle of an olive tree. You’ll learn how olive trees differ from grape vines, how olives go from flower to fruit, and how to care for your own olive tree. Let’s dig in and find out if olives really grow on vines!
Olive Trees vs Grape Vines What’s the Difference?
Olives and grapes – two quintessential Mediterranean fruits. But while grapes grow on vining plants olives grow on trees. Here are some key differences between olive trees and grape vines
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Growth habit Olive trees are trees that grow up to 49 feet tall with a thick trunk and many branches. Grape vines are vining plants that grow along supports or trellises not independent trees.
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Life span: Olive trees are very long-lived, with lifespans from 300 up to 1000 years. Grape vines are much shorter lived, around 20-30 years.
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Leaves: Olive trees have silver-green oval shaped leaves. Grape vines have lobed, palm-shaped leaves.
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Flowers: Olive trees have small white flowers that bloom in spring. Grape vines have greenish flowers in dense clusters that bloom in summer.
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Fruit: Olives are a drupe fruit with a pit, while grapes grow in clusters of berry fruits.
So while grapes and olives are both commonly grown around the Mediterranean, they come from completely different types of plants – vines versus trees. Now let’s look closer at the olive tree itself.
The Olive Tree Lifecycle: From Flower to Fruit
Olive trees go through distinct growth stages on their journey from seed to fruit-bearing tree. Here are the key phases of olive tree growth:
Dormancy Period:
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In winter, olive trees become dormant to withstand cold temperatures and frost.
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Lasts 1-3 months depending on climate.
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Olive trees need consistent chill hours below 45°F during dormancy.
Sprout Growth:
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In spring, new sprouts emerge and grow rapidly on olive branches.
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Flower buds also start forming at the ends of branches.
Flowering:
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Small white olive flowers bloom, usually in May.
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Flowers only last about 1-2 weeks.
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Bees pollinate the flowers during this time.
Fruit Development:
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Flowers drop and olives start growing in June.
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Green olives slowly get bigger and fill with oil.
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Whole fruit growth process takes 2-3 months.
Ripening:
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Olives change color in fall, turning purplish-black when fully ripe.
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Ripe olives have higher oil content.
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Olives are ready for harvest in winter.
As you can see, olive trees go through a distinct seasonal cycle timed to their native Mediterranean climate. Flowering in spring, fruit growth in summer, and ripening in fall allows olives to be harvested at their peak in winter. Proper olive tree care keeps the cycle going year after year.
Caring for Olive Trees
If you want to grow your own olive tree, you’ll need to provide the right care to keep it healthy and productive. Here are some key olive tree care tips:
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Plant in well-draining soil in full sun. Amend soil with compost or manure.
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Water deeply 1-2 times per week in summer. Avoid overwatering.
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Fertilize in spring with a balanced organic fertilizer.
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Prune annually after harvest to stimulate new growth.
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Harvest olives when fully black ripe. Green olives are unripe.
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Protect from hard freezes below 15°F.
With excellent drainage, lots of sun, ample water and nutrient-rich soil, olive trees are quite easy to grow. A little yearly pruning and proper harvest timing ensures a good crop of olives.
The Takeaway: Olives Grow on Trees, Not Vines
Hopefully this article has cleared up any confusion about where olives come from. While grapes grow on vining plants, olives grow on olive trees, which go through a distinct lifecycle timed to a Mediterranean climate. With the right care, olive trees can live for centuries, producing harvest after harvest of delicious olives. So the next time you pick up a jar of olives or drizzle some olive oil, you’ll know exactly where it came from – an amazing olive tree!
Quick Care and Tips
- Plant your vines with compost, Bone meal and BioOcean. Feed throughout summer with BioOcean or BioGanic every alternate month.
- Grapes are water wise and resent too much water or being waterlogged through summer. That is why drainage is very important when choosing a spot to plant one.
- All grapes need a support. Plant them up a trellis or over an arch or pergola for the best results.
- Grapes are pruned in winter quite heavily and then shoot out for spring and fruiting through mid to late summer.
- Through our summer rainfall period watch for signs of Mildew or Rust on the leaves as that will limit your harvest or quality of fruit.
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Two of the most popular edibles to eat Olives and Grapes are just as easy to grow successfully. Both are extremely water wise and do best in a sunny spot and just as well in a large container producing fruit many years even decades to come. Both are plants for pollinators and add interest to the landscape with their leaf colours and textures.
 Our most popular Black Olive is “Mission” |
 Frantoio has a nutty flavour when pickled |
Olive trees are great not only as fruit tree options but also as a tree in the garden that attracts birds. The Olive branch it is the symbol of peace and it is also a symbol of strength and survival with the hard wood of the tree being able to withstand a variety of conditions.
Although the birds love the fruit it is possible to get some for yourself off the trees and if you dont want to harvest the fruit looks attractive on the tree too. We sell two of the most popular and best suited to our climate fruiting varieties. For green olives we recommend Spanish Queen and for Black Olives the best variety by far is Mission. New for us is the Tuscan Olive Frantoio which popularly grown for olive oil but is also delicious and have a nutty flavour when pickled.
All are self-pollinating but for more fruit planting two or more is best, as cross pollination will increase the amount of fruit. Olive trees are most productive in with hot, dry summers and milder winter weather and while olive trees are astoundingly tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions but they dont like wet feet.
To ensure you give your olive tree the best possible start to life, just follow these tips:
- Plant them in the sunniest position possible, ideally north or west facing.
- Plant in free-draining soil that will not become waterlogged during the wetter parts of the year. Plant into a hole that is wider than deeper and include compost and Bone Meal for strong root development.
- Olive trees can be easily pruned to maintain the size and habit required. We recommend that light, formative pruning is undertaken in mid-spring with heavier trimming in early to mid-summer. Like many Mediterranean trees, olives need some heat and recovery time to heal wounds before the dormant winter period.
- Feed your olive tree with a high Nitrogen fertiliser such as Nitrosol or BioGanic through the summer months.
Olives do exceptionally well in containers provided they have a wide opening and that there is sufficient drainage. Use only potting soil in the container when planting as this will help with drainage. The container should be in a spot where it receives at least five or six hours a day of full sun. Fertilise the potted olive every month through summer and early autumn and then not through mid-winter.
Prune the olive after the spring buds are through and have turned into leaves. Clipping the ends will encourage a full topiary to develop. The only thing to watch out for is too much watering as they need very little in a container and keep a watch for Scale insects which sit under the leaves and on the soft stems of the plant.
 Crimson Seedless produces a lot of fruit |
 Dark red to black Catawba Grapes |
Wine grapes grow famously in the Cape wine lands and even along the Orange River, all dry places with rocky soil and little rainfall. But they will grow well in our local area where they just need something to cling to and grow around. A few things to consider and soon you will have a very rewarding and worthwhile addition to any style of garden. Find a spot where there is good air circulation around the vine. They prefer a loose soil with good drainage and as much sun as possible. Believe it or not its almost impossible to kill a grape vine. In the first year let them just grow wild and then at pruning the second year you guide and shape them into the structure that you want. Catawba is a popular dark red variety that is exceptionally vigorous grower with a very sweet taste that makes it ideal to serve fresh or for adding to your morning smoothie. Crimson Seedless has a good large size fruit and is popular as it is heavy fruit producing variety.
How Do Olives Grow?
FAQ
Do olives grow on a tree or vine?
GROWING AN OLIVE TREE. An olive is an edible fruit produced by an olive tree (Olea europaea).
Do olives grow in vineyards?
Olive trees have been planted in and around vineyards for thousands of years. Climate is one reason that grapes and olives make good companion plants. Autumn in Greece, specifically October, marks the harvest season for grapes and olives.
Can you eat olives off the vine?
It’s possible to eat any olives from the branch, but chances are they will taste intensely bitter.May 22, 2023
Do olives and grapes grow together?
They’re not even close to the same plant, olives grow on trees. Grapes grow on vines.
Do olive trees grow on trees?
Lots of people ask us do olives grow on trees?Yes, you CAN grow olive tree plants! Growing olive trees in the backyard orchard or in a container is not only possible, but easy and very rewarding. Learn how to plant an olive tree with this Olive Tree Planting Guide; it will lead you in the right direction for a healthy and thriving fruit tree!
Can olive trees grow in subtropical zones?
Olive trees grow best in subtropical zones. However, even with favorable conditions, various stresses such as insects, diseases, weather, and time can weaken the olive tree and cause olives or the tree itself to die.
Can olive trees grow back from the roots?
Even when chopped to the ground, olive trees easily sprout back. They are quite easy to grow and are long-lived with a life expectancy of 500 years. Olive trees, decorated with green olive fruits, are very persistent and have been enchanting our gardens for centuries.
What conditions are necessary for olive trees to grow?
For the olive life cycle to run full circle, various external and internal conditions must be favorable for the olive tree. For instance, the olives require adequate space, water, nutrients, and enough sunlight for their successful growth. Olive trees grow best in subtropical zones.
Where can I get an olive tree?
If you’re looking to add more trees to your orchard or replace a neglected olive tree, the best places to get them are your local nursery or an online nursery. One of the most reliable and the world’s largest online nurseries is Fast Growing Trees.
Where do olives grow?
To produce olives, the Arbequina olive tree requires at least 300 chill hours; that is, 300 hours below about 45°F in the wintertime, making it well adapted for in-ground cultivation in United States Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 7B-11 (find your USDA zone).