Olea

Olea are a genus of about 40 species that are native to warm temperate and tropical regions of southern Europe, Africa, Australia and southern Asia. They are shrubs and evergreen trees with small and opposite entire leaves. Olea’s fruit is a drupe. For the humans, the most important species is, of course, the Olive (Olea europaea), which is native to the Mediterranean region, southwest Asia, Africa, and the Himalayas. Olea species are used as food plants by the larvae of some species so caution is needed in order to its preservation. The trees typically reach from 7 to 9 metres, but it varies according to the species. Olea plants can grow in a wide range of climates but it is better if planted in the sunniest position possible, in a free-draining soil that will not become waterlogged during the wetter seasons of the year. The trees can be very easily pruned to maintain the required size and habit. They tolerate around -7ºC for short periods of time, that is, providing the daytime temperature rises sufficiently. To be able to survive in a hot and dry climate, the leaves have a protective coating and are hairy in some species. This is an adaptation that slows down the transpiration process.

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