Additional notes (click to expand)

Horticulture

Slow growing, evergreen tree, developing a rounded head, with opposite, leathery, elliptic to lance-shaped, irregularly toothed leaves, to 8cm (3in) long, grey-green above, silvery grey-green beneath. Tiny, fragrant, creamy white flowers are borne in axillary panicles, to 5cm 2 (in) long, in summer, followed by edible, spherical ovoid green fruits (olives), to 4cm long, ripening to black. 10m (30ft) high by 10m wide. Frost hardy.
Brickell, C. (2003). A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Dorling Kindersley. p.737

Grow in deep, fertile, sharply drained soil in full sun. During the growing season, water moderately and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every month; water sparingly in winter.
Brickell, C. (2003). A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Dorling Kindersley. p.737

To propagate: sow seed at 13-15°C in spring. Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer. Prone to scale insect infestations.
Brickell, C. (2003). A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Dorling Kindersley. p.737

Medicinal

Oleuropein, which is found in virgin olive oil primarily, has among other things anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, vasodilative and antihypertensive effects. Oleuropein increases the proportion of the transmembrane protein thermogenin in the brown adipose tissue and triggers the release of adrenaline and noradrenaline. This generates heat without muscular activity and breaks down enriched body fat.
Petersen, F. (2012). Physic Garden Medicinal Plant Guide. Novartis Pharma AG. p.99

Nomenclature

People held the olive tree and olive oil (ancient Greek, élaion, Latin oleum) to be sacred. From antiquity the tree has been a symbol of peace and good will. In Greek mythology, the olive tree was a gift of the goddess Pallas Athena to the city of Athens. This myth is understood today as a picture of how mankind became sedentry through the development of agriculture.
Petersen, F. (2012). Physic Garden Medicinal Plant Guide. Novartis Pharma AG. p.99

europea’us- european.
Stearn, W.T. (1996). Dictionary of Plant Names for Gardeners. Cassell. p.137

Other use

Dioscorides (Beck, 2005) regarded the olive as a panacea, curing all manner of cutaneous afflictions from shingles to sores; eye problems to bleeding and for cleaning gums, but the sap he regarded as a deadly poison, an abortifacient, but good for curing leprosy if applied topically. Other 16th century herbalists repeat Dioscorides but by Lindley’s time (1836) the bark had also acquired a reputation as a quinine substitute, so used for fevers. Its virtues have gradually descended to becoming an addition to salads and for lubricating ear wax, although the leaves are still used in herbal medicine. The great medicinal advantage of the oil is that ‘it does no harm’. Olive fruit takes much longer to ripen in northern latitudes, which is why we see it in mid-winter still on the tree at the Royal College of Physicians. It was presented to the College as a token of friendship by the Society of Apothecaries.
Oakeley, Dr. Henry F. (2013). Wellcome Library notes. link

Traditionally it has been used as an antiseptic, aperient, astringent, diuretic, emollient, hair-oil, sedative, shampoo and tonic. It has been administered to relieve hypertension, fever and scrofula.
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) Taxonomy for plants. USDA Agricultural Research Service http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl link

Oleae folium (leaves) and Olivae oleum (oil) have been used on scratches, psoriasis, treatment of wounds, lancing of boils and as a component of various medicines.
Petersen, F. (2012). Physic Garden Medicinal Plant Guide. Novartis Pharma AG. p.99

Phytochemistry

Contains iridoids (oleuropein), aclyglycerols with oleic acid.
Petersen, F. (2012). Physic Garden Medicinal Plant Guide. Novartis Pharma AG. p.99

Geographical distribution

  • Africa, East Tropical Africa, Kenya
  • Africa, East Tropical Africa, Tanzania
  • Africa, East Tropical Africa, Uganda
  • Africa, Northeast Tropical Africa, Ethiopia
  • Africa, Northeast Tropical Africa, Somalia
  • Africa, Northeast Tropical Africa, Sudan
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Algeria
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Egypt
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Libya
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Morocco
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Tunisia
  • Africa, South Tropical Africa, Malawi
  • Africa, South Tropical Africa, Mozambique
  • Africa, South Tropical Africa, Zambia
  • Africa, South Tropical Africa, Zimbabwe
  • Africa, Southern Africa, Botswana
  • Africa, Southern Africa, KwaZulu-Natal
  • Africa, Southern Africa, Namibia
  • Africa, Western Indian Ocean, Madagascar
  • Africa, Western Indian Ocean, Mauritius
  • Africa, Western Indian Ocean, Réunion
  • Asia-Temperate, Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia
  • Asia-Temperate, Arabian Peninsula, Yemen
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Cyprus
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Turkey
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Albania
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Greece
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Italy
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Yugoslavia
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, France
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Portugal
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain

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Olea europaea L.

Family: OLEACEAE
Genus: Olea
Species: europaea L.
Common names: Olive
Pharmacopoeia Londinensis name: Nux Oliva, Oleum recens, Oleum vetus, Oleum Ompharcinum
Distribution summary: Mediterranean
Habit: Tree
Habitat: Rocky slopes, scrub & light woodland
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Pharmacopoeia Londinensis 1618 'Seeds & Grains' (HSE 8)
Flowering months: June, July
Reason for growing: Medicinal


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