Olive tree varieties by size and fruiting

Choose the olive by the decision you need: a smaller mostly fruitless ornamental, a taller fruitless tree, or a fruiting and oil cultivar.

Plant coveredOlea europaeaOlive tree (indoor) · outdoor seasonal

Check the species, variety, group or trade name

Plant names and labels

Taxonomy
Kew accepts Olea europaea as the exact species. The cultivar comparisons in this guidance are horticultural selections within that species, not separate species identities.
Group
The useful horticultural groups are smaller or mostly fruitless ornamentals, larger fruitless trees, and fruiting or oil cultivars. These groups describe fruiting, size, and use rather than formal botanical ranks.

Compare visible shape, pattern and size

How the varieties differ

UCANR describes Little Ollie as a smaller, mostly fruitless shrub suited to hedges or patio containers, while Swan Hill and Wilson or Wilsonii are fruitless but can become much taller. Named fruiting or oil choices include Arbequina, Mission, Manzanillo, Sevillano, and Frantoio. Cultivar changes fruit size, oil, flavor, and pollinizer needs.

Change care only for a named difference

Care differences

Cultivar choice changes the practical decision about patio space, pruning or training, fruit and cleanup, and whether a second pollinizer may be needed. The selected profiles retain a full-sun, well-drained outdoor baseline.

Treat an unverified identity as uncertain

Limits of plant labels

Sources