The olive tree, Olea europaea, is a highly sought-after landscape addition prized for its silvery-green foliage, drought tolerance, and historical significance. Its popularity has made it a common feature in gardens, patios, and commercial plantings across various climates. Determining the cost of adding an olive tree to your property can be complex, as the price is not fixed but fluctuates dramatically based on several measurable attributes. Understanding these variables provides a realistic expectation for budgeting this particular landscape investment.
Primary Factors Influencing Olive Tree Price
The most significant factor determining an olive tree’s price is its physical size, which directly correlates with its age and the container volume. Younger, smaller trees sold in nursery containers are the least expensive option. A small sapling in a five-gallon container, typically standing three to four feet tall, generally costs between $80 and $150, making it an accessible choice for most homeowners.
As the tree matures, the cost increases substantially because of the years of nursery care and resources required to grow it. Medium-sized trees, such as those in a 15-gallon container, which may stand five to six feet tall, commonly fall in the range of $200 to $500. These trees offer a moderate landscape impact.
The highest prices are reserved for mature trees, often sold in large wooden boxes, such as a 24-inch or 36-inch box, or for ancient specimen trees. A tree in a 24-inch box, which can be over eight feet tall, often costs between $400 and $800, providing an immediate, established look to a landscape. Specimen trees that are decades or even centuries old, featuring gnarled, thick trunks, can command prices starting from $1,000 and easily exceeding $5,000, reflecting their rarity and decades of cultivation. The sheer size and age of these statement trees necessitate specialized handling and equipment, justifying the dramatic price increase over younger stock.
How Variety and Training Affect the Cost
Beyond the physical dimensions, the specific genetic variety, or cultivar, of the olive tree plays a substantial role in its valuation. Common, high-yield varieties like ‘Arbequina’ are widely available, but even within this cultivar, a mature tree can cost between $200 and $600. Varieties valued for specific attributes, such as the cold-hardy ‘Koroneiki’ or a fruitless variety like ‘Wilsonii,’ can influence the price upward due to specialized demand or lower availability.
The origin of the tree also contributes to the final price, particularly if it has been imported from traditional olive-growing regions like Spain or Italy. These trees often have a premium added to their cost to cover extensive transportation logistics, phytosanitary certification requirements, and customs fees. This makes an imported tree more expensive than a comparably sized tree grown domestically.
Specialized horticultural training and shaping also elevate a tree’s cost significantly. Trees trained into specific ornamental forms, such as the multi-trunk style, require years of careful pruning and maintenance. Similarly, trees trained as an espalier, meaning they are flattened and grown against a wall or trellis, demand consistent, skilled labor to maintain their two-dimensional structure. Bonsai specimens or trees with unique, artistic trunk shapes are valued purely for their aesthetic training, placing them at the higher end of the price spectrum regardless of their overall height.
Beyond the Purchase Price: Associated Costs
The initial price of the olive tree is only one part of the total investment, as several associated costs must be factored into the budget. For any tree larger than a 15-gallon container, the cost of specialized delivery and professional installation is nearly unavoidable. Moving large, heavy boxed specimens requires heavy equipment and a skilled crew, which can add hundreds or even thousands of dollars to the final expense.
Installation services account for proper soil preparation, including amending the native soil to ensure the well-drained conditions olive trees prefer. Long-term maintenance also presents a recurring cost, especially for larger specimens that require regular professional attention. Pruning services, necessary to maintain tree shape and promote healthy growth, typically cost between $150 and $400 per session.
Other maintenance expenses include specialized soil treatments, such as root zone aeration or fertilization. Pest and disease management, while often minimal for olive trees, can incur additional costs if treatments are needed to maintain the tree’s vitality. The total investment for a mature specimen tree extends well beyond the nursery tag price once logistics and care are included.