Olive - Olea Europaea Mission

The WA Mission is a local selection closely related to Frantoio, collected from historic plantings in Western Australia. A dual-purpose variety suited to both oil and table use, with smaller fruit and an extended harvesting window - useful when you don't want to process the whole crop at once. Its WA origins mean it is well-adapted to our soils and summer conditions. Olives are among the most naturally suited trees for Perth's climate - hot dry summers, mild winters, and well-drained sandy soils closely mirror the Mediterranean conditions they evolved in. Once established they are genuinely drought tolerant, though good watering through summer improves fruit size and quality. Full sun is non-negotiable. Fertilise with a low-phosphorus fertiliser in spring. Prune lightly after harvest to open up the canopy and encourage the following season's fruit. A note on fruit: raw olives are not edible straight from the tree - all table olives need curing first.