Olea europaea Mature Specimen

Description

Some trees you grow. Some trees you inherit. And some — like these — you simply have the extraordinary good fortune to bring home already magnificent.

These are genuinely mature specimen olive trees, decades in the making, carrying the kind of presence and character that no amount of patience or gardening skill can hurry. At up to 4 metres in height, with girths that speak of a long, well-lived growing life, these are trees that arrive and immediately become the defining feature of any garden, terrace, or outdoor space they inhabit. The wide, loose, natural foliage heads move in the lightest breeze, that familiar silver-grey shimmer catching the light in the way only an old olive truly can.

We photograph and present each specimen individually — because at this scale, every tree is genuinely unique. The gnarled bark, the particular spread of the canopy, the way the trunk has grown over decades — these are not details that can be described generically. They must be seen.

Available Specimens:

Specimen One — The Largest on the Nursery
Our most impressive olive tree. A wide-spanning, loose natural head sitting atop a trunk of extraordinary character.
– Girth: 80–90cm
– Height: Up to 4m
– Pot: 1,500 Litre
– Form: Wide-spanning, loose natural foliage head

Specimen Two — A Stunning Mature Tree
A beautifully proportioned mature specimen with impressive scale and a graceful, natural form.
– Girth: 45–50cm
– Height: 3.5–4m
– Pot: 375 Litre
– Form: Natural, open foliage head

Quick Facts:

Common Name: Olive Tree – Mature Specimen
Botanical Name: Olea europaea
Type: Evergreen specimen tree
Form: Natural, loose — unclipped
Foliage: Silvery grey-green — wide, light-catching canopy
Flowers: Small, creamy-white — summer
Fruit: Possible in warm, sheltered positions
Growth Rate: Slow — decades of character already established
Sun: Full sun — essential
Soil: Free-draining; tolerates dry conditions once established
Hardiness: RHS H4 (hardy to approximately -10°C)
Drought Tolerant: Yes — once established
Origin: Italy — certified Xylella-free
Certification: Pre-export tested and certified free from Xylella fastidiosa
Delivery: Hiab crane delivery required — please contact our team to arrange
Best For: Estate gardens, large terraces, luxury courtyards, landmark focal points

Caragh Garden Notebook

Planting a Specimen of This Scale: A tree of this magnitude deserves a planting programme to match. Choose the most important, most visible position in your garden — somewhere it can be seen from multiple vantage points, where the scale of the canopy can be fully appreciated. The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball and enriched with generous amounts of compost. At this size, professional planting support is strongly recommended — speak to our team about our planting service.

Delivery & Installation: Trees of this scale require specialist delivery and handling. Our Hiab crane service is available for trees of this size, ensuring safe, precise placement wherever you need them — including over walls, through gates, and into position within larger landscaping schemes. Please contact our team to discuss delivery, access requirements, and installation for specimen trees of this size.

Establishment: Even the most mature specimen tree requires attentive watering through its first season in a new location. Water generously and regularly until the root system has re-established — a tree of this scale has a significant canopy drawing on water reserves, and consistent moisture through the first year is essential for a strong start in its new home.

Ongoing Care: Once settled, mature olive trees are remarkably self-sufficient. Feed with a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring and mulch the root zone generously with well-rotted compost. Minimal pruning is needed — remove any dead or crossing branches in late spring and resist the urge to over-manage. The character of an old olive lives in its natural form.

Winter Care: Established olive trees at this scale and maturity have considerable cold resilience. Ensure drainage around the root ball is excellent through winter, and protect the immediate root zone with a generous mulch layer during the coldest periods. Our team can advise on specific winter care for your site and location.

Xylella Certification: All our olive trees are tested and certified free from Xylella fastidiosa prior to leaving Italy.

A Once-in-a-Generation Purchase: Trees of this girth and maturity are exceptionally rare. The 80–90cm girth specimen in particular represents something that cannot be replicated or replaced within a lifetime of growing — a tree with genuine history, genuine character, and the kind of presence that makes gardens truly unforgettable. If you have been looking for a tree that makes a statement nothing else can, this is it.

Styling Notes: A specimen olive of this scale needs generous space and thoughtful placement — not competition, but complementary planting that frames and supports its presence. Underplant with low, silver-toned planting — lavender, Santolina, Stachys byzantina — to echo the foliage tone and ground the tree visually. Against warm stone paving and rendered walls, the effect is timeless. For a contemporary scheme, allow the tree to stand alone against a single material — pale limestone, dark basalt, or white render — and let it carry the entire space by itself. It will.