Wild olive bonsai (302)

Presentation

Wild olive (Olea oleaster) of about 14-15 years, 28 cm tall, with a trunk showing marked movement at the base and a rounded canopy already dense with fine twigs. The nebari measures 6 cm and the root system sits nicely on the surface of the free-draining lapillus-based substrate. Ideal for anyone looking for a medium-sized Mediterranean species to keep outdoors all year round.

Technical specifications

• Species: Olea oleaster (wild olive)
• Style: informal upright, rounded canopy
• Plant height: 28 cm
• Nebari: 6 cm
• Age: about 14-15 years
• Pot: round, 22 diam. x h. 8 cm, ivory glazed stoneware
• Total weight: 2.3 kg
• Position: outdoors, full sun
• Care difficulty: low

How to care for it

Keep it outdoors all year round, in the sunniest spot you have: with less light the twigs stretch out and the canopy loses compactness. In summer, with a shallow pot only 8 cm deep, you need to check the substrate every day and water when the surface dries out; in winter water very rarely, only when the soil is dry, sheltering the plant during hard frosts.

To learn more about caring for this species, see the complete botanical care sheet.

Frequently asked questions

Is the plant I receive the one in the photo?

Yes, it is a one-of-a-kind specimen and the photo shows the exact plant that will be shipped. As it is a living plant, the foliage may look different from the picture due to natural growth, pruning, pinching or seasonal changes. The trunk, the 6 cm nebari and the pot are, however, those shown in the image.

How much space does it take up once placed?

It takes up little room: the round pot measures 22 cm in diameter by 8 cm in height and plant and pot together reach about 36 cm in total height, with the canopy slightly wider than the pot. Total weight is 2.3 kg, so it can easily be moved onto a windowsill or an outdoor table.

Can I keep it indoors?

No. The wild olive is a Mediterranean outdoor species and needs direct sun and the seasonal temperature swing. Indoors it loses vigour within a few months. A balcony, terrace or garden are the right spots; in areas with harsh winters, temporary shelter during the hardest frosts is enough.

What is included

• Wild olive bonsai (Olea oleaster) h. 28 cm in a round ivory glazed stoneware pot 22 diam. x h. 8 cm, the exact specimen shown in the photo
• Plant certificate (identity card of the specimen with species, measurements and characteristics)
• Reinforced packaging designed to protect the plant during shipping