What Is the Majestic Beauty Olive?
‘Majestic Beauty’ is a cultivar of the European olive (Olea europaea) that is sold mainly as an ornamental. It is usually described as a slow-to-moderate-growing, evergreen tree with a rounded crown, silvery-green leaves that are a bit broader than many olives, and a reputation for producing little or no fruit. Nurseries often market it as a low-mess shade or specimen tree for warm climates.
Details such as mature size, fruit production and cold tolerance differ between sources, and seller descriptions are not always consistent. Many listings suggest a mature height somewhere around 25 to 30 feet, but confirm this with the nursery and ask whether the tree is truly fruitless or merely low-fruiting.
Which Olive Tree Is Best?
It depends on what you want.
- For ornamental use with little fruit: ‘Majestic Beauty’, ‘Swan Hill’ and ‘Wilsonii’ are among the types sold as fruitless or nearly so. Check whether a specific plant is a true fruitless selection.
- For container growing or a small yard: ‘Arbequina’ is a smaller, self-fertile variety popular with home growers and often produces small fruit.
- For oil: ‘Frantoio’, ‘Leccino’ and ‘Koroneiki’ are well-known oil cultivars.
- For table olives: ‘Manzanillo’ and ‘Mission’ are common choices.
- For colder spots: Hardiness varies. Many olives are happiest in mild-winter regions, roughly zones 8 or 9 and warmer, and young trees can be damaged by hard freezes. Some varieties, including Arbequina, are often reported as tougher, but check the plant tag and local advice.
Fresh olives straight from the tree are very bitter and must be cured before eating.
Do Olive Flowers Turn Into Olives?
Only some do. Olives produce clusters of many tiny, creamy flowers in spring. The flowers are pollinated by wind, and a tree typically sets fruit from only a small share of them. Many varieties are self-fertile to some degree, though a second variety nearby can improve fruit set. Weather during flowering, a lack of winter chill, heat and drought stress can all reduce fruiting. Fruitless cultivars flower but fail to produce olives, or produce very few.
Planting and Care
- Sun: Full sun is best.
- Soil: Well-drained soil is essential. Olives resent wet feet and root rot is a main risk. Poor, rocky or sandy soil is usually fine.
- Watering: Water regularly in the first year or two. Established trees are quite drought tolerant, but a deep soak in hot, dry spells helps. For other heat-loving choices, see trees for hot, dry climates.
- Feeding: Light feeding is usually enough, and over-fertilizing leads to weak growth.
- Pruning: Prune to open the canopy for light and air, remove dead wood and manage shape. Avoid heavy cuts.
- Containers: Olives do well in large pots with excellent drainage, and young trees in pots can be moved under cover in cold weather. See best trees for patio pots for container tips.
- Frost: Protect young trees from hard freezes with covers or by moving pots.
Pests, Mess and Pollen
- Fruit drop: Fruiting varieties drop olives that stain paving and can be slippery, which is a reason people choose fruitless types.
- Pollen: Olive pollen is a significant allergen for some people. If you are sensitive to pollen, consider this before planting, and talk to your doctor for health advice.
- Pests and diseases: Scale insects, olive knot, leaf spot and in some regions the olive fruit fly can affect trees. Check with your local extension service for what is common in your area.
- Size: Even compact varieties can grow larger than expected, so allow room.
Why Are Olive Trees So Expensive?
Several factors add up. Olives grow slowly, so nurseries must hold plants for years before sale. Large, mature specimens are heavy and costly to ship and handle, and some are field-grown, dug and boxed, then re-established. Some varieties are in demand for landscaping, and size drives price sharply. Smaller young plants are much cheaper if you can wait.
What About Faux Olive Trees?
If you cannot grow a real one, for instance indoors without enough light, artificial olive trees are widely sold. Realism varies by price, and quality models often use varied leaf shapes, natural-looking trunks and good color. Look closely at customer photos rather than only studio images. For a live option indoors, a bright south-facing window and a large pot may work for a small olive, but light is often the limiting factor.
If you enjoy growing fruit, our guides to cold-hardy fig trees and how big cherry trees get cover other garden options.