Olive - Olea Manzanillo

The most widely planted fruiting olive in Australia, and for good reason. Manzanillo produces large, plump fruit with a high flesh-to-pit ratio and a mild, buttery flavour - outstanding for green table olives and perfectly suited to Perth's long warm season. The tree itself is a handsome spreading form with characteristic silver-green foliage, growing to around 5-8m in the ground and well-suited to large feature positions. Partially self-fertile, though a second variety nearby will improve yield. 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.