Arbequina Olive Tree

Characteristics of Arbequina Olive Trees

Bring a taste of the Mediterranean to your home! Delicious both for eating at the table and pressing for oil, the Arbequina olive originates from Catalonia, Spain, and is one of the most popular olive varietals grown in California’s olive industry today.

This fruit tree grows well in containers indoors. Outdoors, it may be planted in pots and brought inside for the winter, or it may be planted in the ground in temperate climates.

Plant your Arbequina olive as an accent to your patio! The willowy branches grow beautiful gray-green leaves, producing olives that start off green and mature into a lovely black. The olives hang well on the tree and ripen at different intervals, allowing multiple small batch harvests.

Traditionally, the green foliage of olive trees was formed into victory crowns at the ancient Olympics and currently symbolize peace and friendship. Branches are used today for indoor home decorating.

The Olives

Arbequina olives are small black olives that are beloved for their light, fruity flavor. The olives must be cured before eating at the table and should be processed immediately after harvesting.

There is a natural buttery note to the oil that makes it a favorite extra virgin olive oil for many chefs and home cooks. Fresh olives can be pressed at home in small batches to produce your own high-quality extra virgin olive oil.

Arbequina olives are high in monounsaturated fat and vitamin E, and the oil is also an excellent source of monounsaturated fat.

Growing Arbequina Olive Trees

Grown in the ground, the tree can reach up to 15 feet tall. In a garden pot, the tree’s height will be reduced by the size of the pot. Olive trees can live hundreds of years. The Arbequina olive is self-pollinating.

These low-maintenance olive trees need full sun and well-drained soil. The root system is prone to rotting, so it is especially important that garden pots should have plenty of drainage holes. The Arbequina olive is drought tolerant, pest resistant, and heat resistant. The tree should produce fruit within a few years of planting. Harvesting starts in November.

Buy an Arbequina olive tree to enjoy the beauty of its silvery green foliage, tasty olives, and delicate oil!