The olive tree, Olea europaea, is an iconic evergreen species native to the Mediterranean basin. These long-lived trees are instantly recognizable, often reaching heights between 25 and 50 feet with a broad, rounded crown. Its structure is honed by centuries of adaptation to hot, dry climates. This description focuses on the tree’s architecture, distinctive foliage, and reproductive parts.
The Gnarled Trunk and Growth Habit
The structural appearance of the olive tree is defined by its short, robust trunk, anchoring the wide-spreading canopy. In younger trees, the bark is relatively smooth and light gray. With age, the bark becomes fissured, rough, and darker, developing a complex pattern of grooves and ridges.
The most distinguishing feature of a mature olive tree is its gnarled and twisted trunk, a testament to its longevity and slow growth. This convoluted wood grain often results in an uneven surface and numerous swellings, making each ancient tree a unique, sculptural object. The overall growth habit tends toward a sprawling form, with branches that arch outwards, creating a graceful silhouette.
Silvery-Green Foliage
The foliage provides its most recognizable color accent and is present year-round, as the tree is evergreen. Olive leaves are slender, elongated, and lanceolate in shape, typically measuring up to four inches in length. They are set in opposite pairs along the branches, creating a dense, airy canopy.
The leaves have a distinctly two-toned appearance, giving the tree its silvery hue. The upper surface is a darker, smooth green. The underside is covered in fine, pale, protective hairs, resulting in a silvery-gray appearance. This specialized structure helps the tree conserve water in arid conditions. When a breeze moves through the canopy, the flash of the silvery undersides creates a shimmering effect.
Flowers and the Changing Fruit
The reproductive parts of the olive tree are subtle compared to its robust structure and distinctive leaves. The flowers are small, often inconspicuous, and creamy-white or yellowish. They are typically arranged in loose clusters called panicles, which emerge from the leaf axils on the previous year’s wood.
These blossoms appear in the spring, marking the beginning of the fruiting cycle. Following successful pollination, the flower gives way to the fruit, which is botanically a drupe containing a single pit. Initially, the olives are small, hard, green spheres, developing throughout the summer. As the fruit matures, the color changes, progressing from green to shades of red, purple, and finally deep black when fully ripe. Cultivars vary widely; some olives remain green when ripe, while others may turn copper-brown.