Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree - Evergreen Trees Direct

Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree

$15,000.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size: 1000L

1000L

Current Stock Height Guides

1000L: Enquire within for height guide information.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 2m to 4m (varies by pruning style)

Mature Width: 2m to 4m

Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree is expected to grow 15cm to 30cm per year (slow–moderate).

Root Ball Dimensions

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

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Email: sales@evergreentrees.com.au

Phone: (03) 7042 3318

About Your New Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree

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.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Enriched Planting Mix

What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

What plants is it suitable for?

It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

Is it safe for natives?

No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

Is it certified organic?

Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

How much do I need?

Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

Can I use it in pots?

It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

Does it need to be watered in?

Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

View full details

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Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

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Uses in my Garden

Feature Tree
Council or Civic Landscapes

Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree works in an:

Mediterranean Style Garden – timeless courtyard look with stone, pots, and bold greenery.
Japanese Inspired – serene balance of form, foliage, and flow.
Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
Formal Garden – structured, symmetrical design with clipped shapes.
Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Is Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree Evergreen or Deciduous?

Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 2m to 4m (varies by pruning style)

Mature Width: 2m to 4m

Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree is expected to grow 15cm to 30cm per year (slow–moderate).

Growth Rate of Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree

Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree is expected to grow 15cm to 30cm per year (slow–moderate).

They are considered to have a:

Slow Growth Rate
Medium Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree

Is Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree frost tolerant?

Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree is Frost Tolerant – Can handle light to moderate frost once established.

Does Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree Flower?

Olea europaea produces clusters of small, creamy-white, lightly fragrant flowers in late spring to early summer. These subtle blossoms nestle among the sculpted grey-green foliage and may develop into small olives, adding a soft seasonal accent that complements the cloud-pruned form.

Does Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Spring

Flower Type:

Clustered

Flower Colour:

Cream

Is Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree an Australian Native Tree?

No

Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree is Native to Most loved for its elegant silvery foliage and sculptural cloud-pruned form, bringing Mediterranean character and artistry to gardens and courtyards.

What is the Wildlife Value of Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree ?

Its nectar-bearing blooms attract bees and beneficial pollinating insects, while the structured branching and dense foliage pads offer perching and light shelter for small birds. Even in a highly ornamental form, it provides modest ecological value in Mediterranean, urban and coastal gardens.

How much Sunlight does Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree need?

Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree will thrive best in:

Full Sun

Preferred Soil?

Olea europaea performs best in well-drained sandy or loam soils and prefers neutral to slightly alkaline conditions, though it tolerates mildly acidic soil. Cloud-pruned specimens particularly benefit from free-draining soil to protect the shaped root structure from waterlogging. Improve heavy clay with coarse material and organic matter to enhance drainage and aeration. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment and shaping, then transition to deep, infrequent watering as the tree matures to support drought resilience, strong evergreen health and the longevity of its sculpted form.

Is Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree Drought Tolerant?

Is Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree Drought tolerant?

As a young pruned specimen it requires regular watering to recover shaping strength, but once established the Olive Tree develops excellent drought tolerance. Suited to hot, dry Mediterranean conditions, it maintains its sculptural form and evergreen density with only occasional deep watering during extended dry periods.

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How To Plant Your Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree

Feature tree: 3 to 4 metres apart to allow the full canopy and form to develop.

Avenue planting: 3 metres apart for a uniform soft-textured avenue.

Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree is expected to grow 15cm to 30cm per year (slow–moderate).

Slow Growth Rate
Medium Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, this is drought tolerant and only needs a deep soak during extended dry periods.

Mulching: Apply a 5 to 7 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk.

Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Light tip prune in late winter to maintain shape, and remove lower branches as the tree grows to develop a clean feature trunk.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release general-purpose fertiliser in early spring and again in autumn for steady growth and consistent foliage colour.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional inspection in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Planting Your Olea europaea – Cloud-Pruned Olive Tree in Different Soil

Olea europaea performs best in free-draining loam or sandy loam with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage is sharp.

Sandy soil: Free-draining and ideal. Mulch lightly to moderate surface temperature.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and coarse organic compost before planting.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent growth.

pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline preferred. Avoid waterlogging at all times.