Plant Library

Other Names:  European Olive

Description:

A dwarf variety with a graceful, dense habit; produces few fruits, primarily grown for attractive, silvery foliage; perfect as a formal small hedge or screen, topiary, or trained as a single trunk tree for a small area; heat, drought, and salt tolerant

Ornamental Features

Skylark Dwarf Olive has attractive dark green foliage with grayish green undersides and tinges of silver which emerges chartreuse in spring on a plant with an upright spreading habit of growth. The small narrow leaves are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter. The smooth gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Skylark Dwarf Olive is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned in summer after the leaves have fully developed, as it may 'bleed' sap if pruned in late winter or early spring. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Skylark Dwarf Olive is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• Topiary
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Skylark Dwarf Olive will grow to be about 8 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live to a ripe old age of 300 years or more; think of this as a heritage shrub for future generations!

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Skylark Dwarf Olive makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.