Multi-stem Trees
Olea europaea
Olive tree
Silvery evergreen leaves, characterful twisting stems and a timeless Mediterranean feel. A multi-stem Olea europaea brings year-round structure and warmth to sunny terraces, courtyards and gravel gardens.
Silvery-green evergreen foliage all year
Characterful, gnarled multi-stem trunks
Thrives in heat and drought once established
Superb in large containers and courtyards
Please check before you visit. Our nursery is very well stocked, but what we hold changes with the seasons, so this plant may not always be in stock. Enquire before you head over and we will check availability and the sizes we have for you.
At a glance
Type
Multi-stem tree
Foliage
Evergreen
Seasons of interest
Year-round foliage and structure
Eventual size
Typically 3 to 6 m tall in the UK; slow-growing
Position
Full sun, warm and sheltered
Soil
Free-draining, including poor and stony soils; avoid wet, heavy ground
Hardiness
Hardy in sheltered, free-draining sites across much of the UK once established; protect young trees and containers from prolonged hard frost and winter wet
Available
A range of sizes and forms, including characterful mature specimens. Ask our team for current trees and pricing.
Why we love it
Few trees create atmosphere like an olive. Its soft, silvery leaves shimmer in the breeze, and as a multi-stem its twisting trunks bring instant age and character.
It is slow-growing and evergreen, so it holds its shape and gives structure all year, and it loves the hot, dry summers we are seeing more often.
How to use it
Plant it in the sunniest, most sheltered spot you have: a south-facing terrace, courtyard or gravel garden, or in a large container as a centrepiece. Pair it with lavender, rosemary, Cistus and grasses for a Mediterranean scheme.
Planting and aftercare
Plant in spring into very free-draining soil, adding grit on heavier ground. Water regularly through the first two summers, then only in long dry spells. In containers, use a gritty, peat-free compost and feed in spring and summer. Prune lightly in late spring or summer to keep an open, balanced shape.
See it in person
Every plant at Form is hand-selected, none contains new peat, and nothing beats choosing yours by eye. Visit our Row Town showroom in Surrey, just 30 minutes from London, where our team will show you the best of what is on the nursery right now. We deliver across London, Surrey and the Home Counties, and nationwide.
Walk in any time during opening hours and you will be looked after. If you would like dedicated time with a specialist, book a Genus Bar appointment.
Frequently asked questions
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Yes, in a sheltered, sunny spot with good drainage. Established olives tolerate several degrees of frost; it is cold combined with winter wet that causes problems. Protect young trees and container plants in prolonged hard frosts.
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It may fruit after a long, hot summer, particularly in the south, though in the UK olives are grown mainly for their foliage and character.
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Yes, olives do very well in large containers. Use a gritty, peat-free compost, make sure the pot drains freely and feed through the growing season.
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We keep a very well-stocked nursery, but our stock changes with the seasons, so availability varies. Please email us before you visit and we will check what we have and the sizes available.
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Yes, and we would love you to. Every multi-stem tree is individual, with its own branch structure and character, so we always encourage customers to choose by eye. Our largest specimens are held at our Row Town showroom in Surrey. Walk in any time during opening hours, or book a Genus Bar appointment with one of our specialists. If you can’t visit, we are happy to send photographs of individual trees.
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Yes, we deliver nationwide. Deliveries are arranged by our dedicated in-house operations team, and larger specimens can be offloaded by HI-AB or Moffett where needed. We will always agree the most suitable option with you before delivery.
All our multi-stem trees
Explore every tree in our multi-stem trees collection, or view them all with photographs →
Olea europaea
Can’t see what you’re looking for?
Get in touch and we’ll help you find it. Our nursery is very well stocked and we can source almost any plant through our network of trusted growers. Email info@formplants.com, or send us your whole plant list through our bespoke sourcing service.