- Mature height
- 2m to 4m (varies by pruning style)
- Mature width
- 2m to 4m
Olea europaea, the common olive, shaped by hand into a cloud-pruned form. Each tree carries a series of separated foliage pads on bare, sculpted limbs, so the grey-green canopy sits above a gnarled trunk in clear tiers. The leaves are narrow and silvery, and cream flowers appear in spring.
Full sun and free-draining soil are all it asks. Growth is slow to moderate at 15 to 30 centimetres a year, and the pruned form is held at its shaped size rather than allowed to run. It is frost tolerant once established, drought tolerant, and equally at home on coastal and inland sites.
Cloud-pruned olives are used as single statements at entries, in courtyards, beside pools, in civic plazas and in large containers. Space them 3 to 4 metres apart where several are used together. Buying a tree that is already shaped saves years of training and gives a finished result on planting day.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Cloud-Pruned Olive
What is a cloud-pruned olive tree?
Cloud pruning is a training method, related to the Japanese niwaki tradition, in which the canopy is reduced to distinct rounded pads of foliage on exposed branches. Applied to an olive, it plays the soft grey-green pads against the heavy, textured trunk. Each tree is shaped individually over several years, so no two are identical.
How big is a cloud-pruned olive?
These are supplied as mature specimens in 1000 litre containers, generally standing around 2.5 to 3.5 metres tall with a similar spread across the shaped canopy. The form is maintained by pruning rather than left to reach the 4 to 10 metres an unpruned olive makes, so the size stays predictable in a designed space.
How do I prune it to keep the shape?
Trim two or three times through the growing season, from spring to early autumn, taking only the new shoots that break the outline of each pad. Keep the gaps between pads clear so the branch structure stays visible. Use sharp secateurs rather than shears, and avoid cutting into old wood, which regrows unevenly.
Does it need full sun?
Yes, give it full sun. Olives hold their density and foliage colour in bright light, while shaded plants become sparse and drawn, which shows badly in a clipped form. A position out of constant strong wind helps the pads stay even. Reflected heat from paving and walls is not a problem for this species.
Can it be grown in a large pot?
Yes, and large containers are one of the most common uses for this form. Choose a pot at least 800 millimetres across with generous drainage, use a free-draining mix, and irrigate reliably, since a shaped canopy in a pot cannot fend for itself. Feed in spring and refresh the mix every few years.
Is it frost and drought tolerant?
It is frost tolerant once established, handling light to moderate frost, and it becomes drought tolerant after the first couple of years in the ground. Trees in pots need consistent water regardless. Protect newly planted specimens through their first winter in frost-prone gardens, since fresh growth is the part that burns.
How do I care for a cloud-pruned olive?
Water deeply while the tree settles, then only through extended dry weather once it is in the ground. Feed in early spring with a slow-release fertiliser and keep mulch clear of the trunk. Light seasonal trimming maintains the shape. Remove suckers at the base and any shoots on the clear sections of limb.