Frantoio Olive Tree

The Frantoio Olive (Olea europaea 'Frantoio') is Italy's benchmark oil olive, the variety behind the peppery Tuscan oils, and one of the most reliable croppers you can plant in Australia. It grows to about 6m by 4m, is easily held at 4m, and being self fertile a single tree sets heavy crops on its own. Silver green foliage, gnarling character with age, and a constitution that laughs at drought, frost, salt wind and poor soil make it as good a landscape tree as it is an orchard one.

Why you'll love it

• A serious crop from one tree. Frantoio is self fertile and a famously heavy, consistent bearer, prized for oil and equally good brined.
• Survives what kills other trees. Drought, frost, heat waves, salt spray and hungry soils are all within its comfort zone once established.
• Non invasive roots. Safe near paving, pools and structures, unusual for a productive tree.
• Timeless looks. The silver foliage and twisting trunk read as Mediterranean luxury in modern, formal and rustic gardens alike.
• Size on your terms. Left alone it makes a 6m shade tree; pruned annually it holds 4m, and it even hedges.

Where it works best

Feature planting. A single olive on a lawn mound or in a gravel courtyard is a complete design statement, especially uplit at night.

Screening rows and driveways. Plant 4m apart for a productive evergreen screen or a silver avenue.

Coastal and inland gardens. Salt tolerance covers the coast; drought and frost tolerance covers everywhere west of the ranges.

Large pots. In a 60cm or bigger pot it stays compact for years, cropping on a sunny terrace.

Growing the Frantoio Olive in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, always. It thrives in Mediterranean, warm temperate, cool temperate and dry inland climates. Fruit set is best where winters bring real chill; in the humid subtropics it grows well but crops lightly.

Soil. Anything that drains, including stony and alkaline soils. The only site it resents is waterlogged ground; mound plant on heavy clay.

Water and feed. Water deeply and infrequently for the first two summers, then rainfall does most of the work. Deep drinks while fruit is filling improve the crop. Feed lightly with a balanced fertiliser in early spring.

Pruning. Prune after harvest to an open vase shape so light reaches the fruiting wood. Olives fruit on the previous season's growth, so a light annual prune beats an occasional hard one.

What to expect when it arrives

Frantoio ships in 200mm pots in packs of 6 (the grove starter), single 300mm and 400mm trees, and advanced 500mm and 100L stock that arrives with real trunk character and near term crops. Delivery is Australia wide, from $29.95, and advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect steady growth in the first season and first meaningful fruit within two to four years depending on the size you start with. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Olive tree care guide
• Browse all olive trees
• More edible plants

Common questions

Do I need two olive trees for fruit?

No. Frantoio is self fertile and crops well alone, though a second variety such as Kalamata nearby lifts yields further.

Can I eat the olives or are they only for oil?

Both. Frantoio is grown worldwide for premium oil, but the fruit brines perfectly well. Raw olives are inedibly bitter; curing is what makes any olive a table olive.

How do I keep it small?

One prune a year after harvest holds it at 3m to 4m indefinitely. It tolerates hard cutting, so even a neglected tree can be brought back to size.

Why is my olive not fruiting?

Usually youth, shade or a very mild winter. Give it full sun, a lean diet and time; overfed olives grow leaves at the expense of fruit.