🌿 Arbequina Olive Tree — 4-Inch Starter Plant (Olea europaea ‘Arbequina’)

Begin your Mediterranean journey right from the roots 🌞. Our 4-inch Arbequina Olive starter plants are the perfect way to bring the timeless beauty and resilience of the olive tree into your home garden, patio, or edible landscape. Compact, hardy, and endlessly rewarding — this little tree grows into an elegant, fruit-bearing showpiece for years to come.

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🌟 Why Choose the 4-Inch Starter Size?

This is the most economical and shippable size of our Arbequina Olive collection — perfect for beginner gardeners and collectors alike. Easy to transplant, quick to adapt, and light enough for shipping across the Southeast, this 4-inch tree lets you nurture your olive from its earliest stage.

Small size, big promise 🌿 — in just a few seasons, your young Arbequina can grow into a sun-loving, silvery evergreen with beautiful foliage and the potential for buttery, flavorful fruit.

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🌿 QUICK FACTS

Feature	Details
Botanical Name	Olea europaea ‘Arbequina’
Plant Type	Evergreen fruiting tree
Sale Size (Container)	Ships in a 4-inch starter pot
Plant Age	Approx. 6–12 months old
Mature Size (Unpruned/Pruned)	~15–20 ft tall, 8–12 ft wide; can be maintained 6–10 ft in containers
USDA Zones	8–11
Sun	Full sun (6–8+ hours daily)
Cold/Heat	Sensitive to frost when young; hardy to mid-20s °F when mature
Growth Habit	Compact, rounded form; silvery gray-green leaves with glossy undersides
Spacing (Mature)	12–20 ft apart in landscape; closer (8–10 ft) for hedge-style growth

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🫒 FRUIT, FLAVOR & HARVEST

• Flavor profile: Arbequina olives are mild, buttery, and slightly fruity — prized worldwide for their smooth oil and balanced flavor.
• Fruit color: Green to deep purple-black when fully ripe.
• Harvest season: Typically October–November in Mediterranean or similar climates.
• Fruit maturity: From this 4-inch starter stage, expect fruit in approximately 3–5 years with proper care and growing conditions.

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🌱 TOP BENEFITS & USES

• Perfect starter for home growers: Establish your own olive tree from the ground up.
• Compact ornamental: Elegant foliage, sculptural trunk, and drought tolerance make it perfect for small gardens or containers.
• Edible and useful: Fruit for home curing or oil pressing; leaves historically used in teas and herbal blends.
• Low-maintenance beauty: Once established, it thrives with minimal care in well-drained soil and full sun.
• Cultural roots: Originating from Arbeca, Catalonia, Spain, Arbequina is beloved for its delicate, fruity flavor and ability to thrive where other olives may struggle.

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🪴 CONTAINER & INDOOR NOTES

• Ideal for pots and patios: Begin your olive in its 4-inch pot, then up-pot to 1 gallon within 3–6 months as roots fill the container.
• Light: Loves full sun — 6+ hours daily. Indoors, place near a bright south-facing window or under grow lights.
• Soil: Use a well-draining mix (sand + compost blend). Avoid waterlogged soil.
• Watering: Lightly water when the top inch of soil is dry. Do not overwater — roots prefer to breathe.
• Fertilization: Minimal needs — top dress with worm castings or compost once per growing season.

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🧑‍🌾 BEST PRACTICES FOR PLANTING & CARE (ARBEQUINA OLIVE)

Where to plant:

• Choose full sun and well-drained soil.
• If planting in-ground, start in a protected area to help young trees establish before exposing to full weather.

How to transplant (High & Tight method):

1. Carefully remove your plant from its pot, keeping the rootball intact.
2. Dig a hole only slightly wider than the container and no deeper than the soil level.
3. Set the tree slightly above grade on a mound for drainage.
4. Backfill firmly with native soil mixed with compost; water thoroughly.
5. Mulch around the plant (keep mulch away from the trunk).

📺 Watch our “High & Tight” fruit tree planting tutorial:

https://youtu.be/RRQFY30qdA8?si=rRIcsbLlVAVYotfI

Watering schedule:

• For 4-inch starters, water daily or every other day depending on weather. These smaller pots dry out faster.
• Once transplanted and rooted in, shift to deep, infrequent watering to strengthen roots.

Pruning:

• Minimal pruning at this stage — only remove damaged leaves or weak stems.
• Once established, prune in late winter to early spring to form a strong open shape.

Cold care:

• Protect 4-inch starter plants during cold snaps — bring indoors or cover with frost cloth.
• Once mature, Arbequina tolerates temperatures to ~25°F.

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⚠️ CAUTIONS

• Drainage is critical: Avoid standing water; use a well-drained mix or raised bed.
• Young size = fast drying: Check soil moisture frequently — small pots dry faster than larger containers.
• Pests: Occasionally susceptible to scale; treat with organic oils or insecticidal soap if needed.

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🌞 FLORIDA & SOUTHEASTERN NOTES

Our 4-inch Arbequina Olive Trees grow beautifully as ornamental evergreens throughout Florida and the Southeast. Fruiting can be variable due to humidity, but foliage and form are consistently stunning.

Plant in full sun, water regularly while small, and repot or transplant to a larger container after 3–6 months for continued success.

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✅ IS THIS PLANT RIGHT FOR YOU?

Ideal for:

• New gardeners ready to grow from a starter plant
• Container gardeners with sunny patios or balconies
• Growers in Zones 8–11 who enjoy Mediterranean-style landscapes

Not ideal for:

• Shady or soggy environments
• Regions with harsh winter freezes unless overwintered indoors

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🌼 COMPANION PLANTING (EDIBLE GUILD IDEAS)

• Nitrogen fixers: Sunshine mimosa, coral bean
• Dynamic accumulators: Comfrey, vetiver (mulch and mineral cycling)
• Pollinator allies: African blue basil, native salvias, porterweed

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🔍 TROUBLESHOOTING

• 🍂 Yellowing leaves: Overwatering or natural leaf transition; adjust watering frequency.
• 💧 Wilting or droop: Soil too dry — water thoroughly and check drainage.
• 🪲 Scale or aphids: Wipe leaves and treat with organic soap or neem oil.
• ❄️ Frost stress: Bring small pots indoors or use frost protection fabric.

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❓ FAQ

How old is my 4-inch Arbequina Olive Tree?

About 6–12 months old — a strong young start ready to up-pot.

When will it bear fruit?

With care, expect olives in 3–5 years after transplanting and maturing.

Can I grow it indoors year-round?

Yes — Arbequina can adapt indoors if given full-spectrum light and dry, airy soil.

How long before it needs a bigger pot?

Usually 3–6 months, depending on growth and root development.

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🛒 SHIPPING & PICKUP

Shipping

• Our 4-inch size ships best to Florida, the Southeastern U.S., and Texas.
• Smaller containers dry out more quickly in transit — please open immediately upon arrival and water thoroughly.
• Plants shipped to northern and western states may need extra recovery time after delivery.
• Shipping every Monday via UPS Ground.
• Buyer discretion is advised during peak heat and cold seasons — we are not responsible for damage due to extreme temperatures in transit.

Local Pickup

GreenDreams Nursery & Farm

18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610

Tues–Fri 9AM–5PM | Sat 8AM–3PM

Visit our regenerative nursery to see what’s new each week! 🌿

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🌿 Beyond the Plant: GreenDreams Services

We don’t just sell plants — we design, build, and restore edible ecosystems across Florida. From consultations to full-scale installations, bulk compost and soil delivery, and wholesale regenerative solutions, we bring nature’s abundance home to you.

Start your Mediterranean-inspired landscape with your Arbequina Olive Tree (4-inch starter) today!