By Chris Winslow
It has taken me a few years to realize the amazing gifts that olive trees offer us as gardeners here in Central Texas.
I planted one six years ago in a fairly large raised bed at my nursery. Since then this wondrous evergreen has grown to over twenty feet in height and width, and has provided beautiful silvery foliage throughout the year. I now understand that olive trees can decorate our gardens as beautiful ornamentals, as well as providing olive fruit for our tables or for making oil.
My favorites? Mission and arbequina.
Spanish missionaries introduced mission olives to California in the 17th century. These Spanish settlers also brought the trees to Mexico, and to what is now South Texas. They are the only North American varietal listed by the International Olive Council.
Missions are highly drought-tolerant thanks to a sturdy and extensive root system, can handle the cold down to 8 to 10 degrees, and are perfectly suited to our alkaline soils. Mature trees can reach a height and width of 30 to 40 feet.
Mission olives are thought of as flavorful for eating at the table, and are good for making oil as well.
Arbequina olives are somewhat smaller trees, but they grow fast and reach production at an early age. Introduced to Europe from Palestine in the 17th century, they are predominately grown in Spain. Arbequinas have gained rapid popularity in California and Texas because of their early production and their high yields of healthy anti-oxidant rich oils. Their oil flavor is considered very mild.
Arbequinas flourish in our area. They enjoy our alkaline soils and thrive in our long, hot, and generally dry summers. Their mature height is about half that of the mission olive with a spread of 12 feet.
Please come by to see our magnificent olive tree, and you’ll see how beautiful they can be. Happy gardening everyone!
If you have a gardening question, send it to Chris via email: [email protected]. (Please put ‘Ask Chris Winslow’ in the subject line.) Or mail your letter or postcard to: Ask Chris Winslow. It’s About Thyme: 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748
