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🌿 Arbequina Olive Tree — Mediterranean Elegance for Your Edible Landscape (Olea europaea ‘Arbequina’)
Bring a taste of Catalonia to your garden! This compact, silvery-green olive is beloved for its graceful form, container-friendliness, and delicious, buttery fruit—perfect for Florida, the Southeast, and other warm, sunny regions.
🌟 Why Grow Arbequina?
Looking for a resilient, drought-tolerant evergreen that doubles as an edible showpiece? Arbequina checks all the boxes: early-bearing potential, gorgeous year-round foliage, and versatile fruit for curing or pressing into a mild, fruity oil. In Florida and the Southeast, it shines as an ornamental with bonus crops where seasonal conditions align.
🌿 QUICK FACTS
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Olea europaea ‘Arbequina’ |
| Plant Type | Evergreen fruiting tree |
| Sale Size (Container) | Ships in a 3-gallon pot |
| Mature Size (Unpruned/Pruned) | ~15–20 ft tall, 8–12 ft wide; can be maintained 8–12 ft with pruning |
| USDA Zones | 8–11 |
| Sun | Full sun (6–8+ hrs) |
| Cold/Heat | Young wood may be injured below mid-20s °F; thrives with long, hot, dry summers |
| Growth Habit | Naturally compact, rounded canopy; gray-green leaves with silvery undersides |
| Spacing | Home plantings: 12–20 ft; hedgerows possible at 8–10 ft in-row with ~20 ft between rows |
🫒 FRUIT, FLAVOR & HARVEST
- Flavor profile: Buttery, mild, and fruity with low bitterness—classic Arbequina oil style; small fruit ideal for curing or pressing.
- Fruit color: Green → blush → purple-black when fully ripe.
- Harvest window (general): Fall (Oct–Nov) in Mediterranean/California-like climates; timing shifts with local weather.
- Fruiting notes in Florida: Flowering typically in spring; fruiting can vary depending on seasonal temperature and light.
Boost fruit set naturally:
- Ensure ample sun, excellent drainage, and moderate pruning to keep energy focused on fruiting wood.
- Avoid excess nitrogen fertilizer, which promotes foliage growth over fruiting.
🌱 TOP BENEFITS & USES
- Edible + ornamental: Compact size, shimmering leaves, and sculptural trunk; fruit for table or oil.
- Drought tolerance: Once established, olives handle dry spells well.
- Culinary: Cure your own olives; press mild, fruity oil; perfect for salads, marinades, and roasted vegetables.
- Origin story: Named for Arbeca, a town in Catalonia, Spain—where this ancient cultivar became beloved for its adaptability and delicate flavor.
🪴 CONTAINER & INDOOR NOTES
- Container-friendly: Use a large, well-drained pot; up-pot gradually. Keep in full sun (patio, south exposure).
- Indoors: Place near the brightest window or use quality grow lights; rotate for even growth; allow the top inch of soil to dry slightly between waterings.
- Target height in pots: Maintain 6–10 ft with light, annual cuts for airflow and shape.
🧑🌾 BEST PRACTICES FOR PLANTING & CARE (ARBEQUINA OLIVE)
Where to plant:
- Sun: Full sun (6–8+ hours).
- Soil: Well-drained is critical—mound or use raised beds if soil is heavy.
- Airflow: Good spacing reduces fungal pressure.
How to plant (High & Tight method):
- Dig a hole just wider than the pot and no deeper than the rootball.
- Set the crown slightly above grade on a mound for drainage.
- Backfill firmly with native soil/compost blend; do not bury the trunk.
- Water deeply after planting; finish with 2–3 in. hardwood mulch, kept off the trunk.
📺 Planting demo (GreenDreams “High & Tight”):
https://youtu.be/RRQFY30qdA8?si=rRIcsbLlVAVYotfI
Watering:
- Establishment (first 8–12 weeks): keep evenly moist but not saturated.
- Mature phase: deep, infrequent watering; avoid chronically wet roots (reduces fruit set).
Feeding (organic-first):
- Olives have modest fertilizer needs; over-N favors leaves over fruit. Use compost, worm castings, and trace-mineral top dressings. Apply boron only if a soil/leaf test shows deficiency (timed pre-bloom).
Pruning (timing & style):
- Prune late winter to early spring. Maintain an open-center/vase form for light and airflow; keep height manageable.
Cold & heat:
- Protect young trees during hard freezes with frost cloth or temporary cover. In heatwaves, water deeply and consider short-term afternoon shade for containers.
⚠️ CAUTIONS
- Poor drainage = problems: Waterlogging leads to root issues and flower/fruit drop.
- Pests/Disease: Generally light; watch for scale/sooty mold. In very humid summers, monitor for fruit anthracnose—prioritize airflow and sanitation.
🌞 FLORIDA & SOUTHEASTERN NOTES
- Excellent ornamental statewide; fruiting is site- and season-dependent, strongest where winters are cool enough for floral initiation and springs are dry/sunny.
- Avoid over-watering and high nitrogen fertilization to promote flowering and fruit quality.
✅ IS THIS PLANT RIGHT FOR YOU?
Ideal for:
- Gardeners in Zones 8–10/11 with full sun and drainage
- Patio growers wanting a container-friendly edible evergreen
- Mediterranean-style cooks who love home-cured olives and fresh oil
Not ideal for:
- Consistently wet sites or heavy clay without mounding/raised beds
- Deep shade or locations with severe winter lows below the mid-20s °F without protection
🌼 COMPANION PLANTING (EDIBLE GUILD IDEAS)
- Nitrogen fixers: Sunshine mimosa, coral bean
- Dynamic accumulators: Comfrey, vetiver (living mulch & nutrient cycling)
- Pollinator magnets: Native salvias, porterweed, African blue basil
🔍 TROUBLESHOOTING (FL & BEYOND)
- 🍂 Yellowing leaves on older wood → normal turnover; prune lightly and top-dress if growth is weak.
- 💦 Flower drop / light fruit set → excess water or warm, wet bloom; improve drainage and airflow.
- 🪲 Scale + sooty mold → wash foliage, encourage beneficials; use organic soaps/oils if needed.
- ❄️ Cold nip on tips → wait to prune until new growth pushes.
❓ FAQ
Does Arbequina self-pollinate?
Yes! Arbequina olives are self-fertile and will fruit on their own with proper sunlight and care.
When will it start producing?
Usually 3–4 years from planting, depending on care and growing conditions.
What’s the best harvest season?
Typically fall (Oct–Nov) in Mediterranean/California-like climates; timing shifts with weather and latitude.
Can I grow it indoors year-round?
Yes—if you provide very bright light and excellent drainage. Fruit indoors is less reliable than outdoors.
Are the leaves useful?
Olive leaf has a long culinary and herbal history (e.g., teas). Use culinary-grade leaf and consult reliable sources for any medicinal applications.
SHIPPING & PICKUP
Shipping
- We ship live plants on Mondays via UPS Ground from Florida.
- 4” & 1-gallon sizes ship best to Florida, the Southeast & Texas; plants shipped to northern/western states may need extra recovery time—buyer discretion during heat/cold.
- 3-gallon trees (this listing) are available for shipment where conditions permit; please unbox and water immediately upon arrival.
Local Pickup
GreenDreams Nursery & Farm
18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610
Tues–Fri 9AM–5PM | Sat 8AM–3PM
Stop by our regenerative nursery to see what’s blooming this week! 🌿
🌿 Beyond the Plant: GreenDreams Services
We do more than sell plants—we design, build, and restore edible ecosystems across Florida: onsite consultations, landscape design/installation, bulk compost/mulch/biochar deliveries, and wholesale solutions. Let’s craft your Mediterranean-inspired foodscape starting with Arbequina!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE PURCHASING LIVE PLANTS:
*Please be advised that our online store selections are NOT available for pickup at our retail location in Spring Hill, Florida.
Inventory for our online store is located at a separate facility and are priced and handled exclusively for packaging & shipping.
Click here to learn more about our Spring Hill, FL retail nursery location, including countless more nursery selections ready for pickup - larger sizes and wider variety of plants not suitable for nationwide delivery.
1. Shipping Stress: Transportation can be stressful for plants, particularly when they spend several days in a confined, dark environment. It’s common for plants to experience leaf drop during this period. Rest assured, most plants typically recover quickly and thrive with minimal aftercare. However, some may need extra attention, love, and care, requiring appropriate watering and exposure to gentle light post-unboxing.
2. Potential Physical Damage: Despite our dedicated efforts to ensure that your plants are securely packaged, they may incur damage during shipping and handling by UPS. Rest assured, our shipping team is committed to packing your selections with utmost care and precision to minimize any potential harm.
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For significant box damage, please reach out to UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
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For minor damages, such as a broken branch or stem, we advise allowing the plant time to recover and regenerate with proper care and attention.
3. Long-Distance Shipping Considerations: Orders shipped over long distances, particularly to the western US, may take 3 - 5 business days to arrive due to various factors, including agricultural inspections in Arizona, California, and Texas. Such extended transit times can be particularly challenging for tender, young plants, affecting their quality due to prolonged confinement.
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We take additional measures during packaging to facilitate a swift recovery of the plants upon unboxing.
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Initial extra care and attention might be required over the first few weeks post-transport.
For further guidance, kindly review our detailed policies on returns and refunds, as well as our comprehensive plant care guide. We appreciate your understanding and patience in nurturing your new plants.
🌿 Important Shipping Information
Please take a moment to review our shipping protocols designed to ensure your plants arrive in optimal condition.
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Countdown Clock: At the top of our online store, you'll notice a countdown clock. This tool helps communicate our weekly shipping schedule, providing clarity on when you can expect your orders to be dispatched.
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Shipping Schedule: Our nursery, located in the heart of Central Florida, ships orders once weekly, every Monday. This is a strategic decision to prevent packages from being stationary over the weekends, ensuring that our plants travel as swiftly as possible across the country, even reaching as far as California.
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Shipping Method: At present, we offer ground shipping rates to meet various needs while maintaining the well-being of our plants during transit.
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Our Dedicated Team: We are a boutique nursery with a passionate team. Our members wear many hats, contributing to shipping, nursery operations, and engaging in valuable local projects. As we blossom and expand, rest assured that enhancing and streamlining our processes remains a priority to serve you better
Terms and Conditions for Purchasing Live Plants
1. Understanding of Shipping Stress
By purchasing live plants from our store, the customer acknowledges that transportation can be stressful for plants. It is common for plants to undergo leaf drop or experience other temporary issues during shipping. However, it is understood that most plants recover quickly with adequate care and attention post-shipping.
2. Awareness of Potential Physical Damage
Customers acknowledge that despite our best efforts in packaging, there may be occurrences of damage during shipping and handling. For substantial damages to the package, customers agree to contact UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
3. Acknowledgement of Long-Distance Shipping Considerations
Customers recognize that shipments, especially those directed to the western US, may be subjected to longer shipping durations of 3-5 business days. Customers agree to provide necessary care to the plants, recognizing that the quality of the plants may be affected due to prolonged shipping times.
4. Agreement with Shipping Information and Schedule
Customers, by making a purchase, have reviewed and agreed upon our shipping protocols and schedules. They acknowledge the presence of a countdown clock on the website and our once-weekly shipping policy every Monday, recognizing the rationale behind avoiding weekend layovers for the plants.
5.Extreme Weather Conditions
Customers acknowledge that our store is not responsible for damage or loss of live plants due to extreme weather conditions during transit and delivery. This includes exposure to cold or freezing temperatures during the winter months and extreme heat during the summer. We provide tracking information when orders are processed every Monday to ensure customers are aware of the delivery schedule. It is the customer's responsibility to prevent packages from being left outside in conditions that may cause damage. Our store does not accept responsibility for any adverse effects caused by weather conditions beyond our control.
6. No Refund Policy
Customers agree that refunds are only processed under exceptional circumstances. Our store will not be held responsible for poor plant choices relative to location suitability, extreme conditions during and/or post-shipment, and improper post-purchase plant care.
7. Responsibility of Care
Upon purchase, customers agree to assume full responsibility for the ongoing care of the plants. This includes, but is not limited to, appropriate watering, exposure to suitable light, and adherence to specific care instructions pertinent to each plant type.
8. Consent
By proceeding with this purchase, customers consent to all the terms and conditions stated above, confirming understanding and agreement to all stipulations mentioned.
These terms and conditions aim to ensure clarity, mutual understanding, and agreement between the seller and the customer to facilitate a smooth transaction and foster a positive customer experience.
