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African Olive
Olea europaea subsp. africana
SA tree no: 617
English: African Olive, Wild Olive, African Wild Olive
Afrikaans: Olienhout
Xhosa: UmNquma
Zulu: UmNqumo
N. Sotho: Mohlware
Historical scientific names: Olea africana, Olea chrysophylla, Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata, Olea verrucosa
Subspecies: Olea europaea subsp. europaea
Olea europaea subsp. africana, commonly known as the African Olive, Wild Olive or Olienhout, is an iconic indigenous evergreen tree found throughout southern Africa. It's a tough, versatile plant that can range from a medium-sized tree with a dense, spreading crown to a multi-stemmed shrub. The tree is easily recognised by its distinctive pale grey to brown bark, which becomes rough and flaky with age, and its striking leaves that are shiny dark green above and a paler, silvery-grey to brownish below.
It produces small, scented, creamy white flowers that develop into small, purplish-black fruits, much like a tiny version of the olives you might eat. This resilient tree is a favourite among birds and is a valuable addition to many ecosystems.
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Distinguishing features:
An evergreen, medium-sized to large tree, typically 2–15 metres high, with a dense, spreading crown.
Features pale grey to brown bark that is smooth when young but becomes rough, longitudinally fissured, and flaky with age.
Has opposite, narrowly elliptic leaves that are shiny dark green above and paler, grey-green to brownish below, covered in minute scales.
Produces small, sweetly scented, creamy white to greenish flowers in sprays.
Bears small, fleshy, purplish-black, ellipsoid to subglobose drupes (fruits), similar in appearance to small cultivated olives.
Overall appearance:
Olea europaea subsp. africana is a sturdy and attractive evergreen tree or large shrub with a characteristic dense, spreading crown. Its silvery-green foliage, especially when viewed from a distance, gives it a distinct look. It is an excellent choice for a shade tree, providing year-round greenery and a classic African feel to any landscape.
Height:
Typically grows between 2 and 15 metres high, but can occasionally be larger.
Leaves:
Arranged in opposite pairs along the stems.
Narrowly elliptic in shape, measuring 30–100 mm long and 10–25 mm wide.
Hairless and have a shiny dark green upper surface.
The underside is distinctly paler, ranging from grey-green to brownish, and is covered in minute, silvery scales, giving it a somewhat silvery appearance.
The midrib is prominent on the underside, aiding in identification.
Flowers:
Small, creamy white to greenish in colour.
Sweetly scented, attracting pollinators.
Produced in auxiliary (from the leaf axils) or terminal (at the end of branches) sprays up to 50 mm long.
They have bisected (split in two) stigmas.
Flowering season:
Generally flowers from October to February.
Fruits:
Small, fleshy, ellipsoid (oval-shaped) to subglobose (nearly spherical) drupes (fleshy fruits with a single hard stone inside).
Measure about 10–12 mm long and 5–7 mm wide.
Ripen to a distinctive purplish-black colour.
Seeds:
Encased within a hard, single stone inside the fleshy fruit.
Bark:
Pale grey to brown and smooth when the tree is young. As the tree matures, the bark becomes rougher, developing longitudinal fissures (cracks) and becoming flaky, which is a key identification feature of older specimens.
Stems:
Can grow as a single-stemmed tree or as a multi-stemmed shrub, especially in harsher conditions. The branchlets are often somewhat angled.
Wood:
The wood is highly valued for its quality:
It is very hard, heavy, and extremely durable.
It is known to be borer-proof and termite-resistant, making it long-lasting.
Traditionally used for crafting furniture, decorative ornaments, fence posts, and tool handles.
It also makes excellent firewood, burning slowly and cleanly.
Thorns:
This plant is thornless.
Roots:
Possesses a strong, well-developed root system, allowing it to be very drought-tolerant once established.
Soil type:
Highly adaptable and can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, including rocky areas, sandy soils, and clay. Prefers well-drained soil.
Aspect:
Extremely adaptable, tolerating a wide range of climatic conditions. It is notably drought-resistant and frost-resistant. It can grow in full sun and is found in various environments from open veld to mountain kloofs.
Edibility:
The small fruits are similar to cultivated olives but are quite bitter. They are not commonly eaten by humans directly but can be pickled, although this requires extensive processing.
Toxicity:
No known toxicity to humans or animals has been reported for Olea europaea subsp. africana.
Uses:
Ornamental Plant: Highly valued as an attractive evergreen tree that provides excellent shade and year-round interest in gardens and urban landscapes.
Wildlife Attraction: Its fruits are an important food source for a wide variety of birds and other animals. Its leaves are also browsed by game.
Traditional Medicine: The root bark has been traditionally used in the treatment of various ailments, including chest complaints, malaria, eye infections, and sore throats. The leaves are also used to lower blood pressure and blood sugar.
Timber and Firewood: Provides very hard, heavy, durable, borer-proof, and termite-resistant wood, suitable for furniture, ornaments, fence posts, tool handles, and is excellent firewood.
Hedge/Screen: Can be pruned to form dense hedges or screening plants.
Bonsai: Due to its attractive bark and leaf structure, it is a popular choice for bonsai enthusiasts.
Ecology:
Pollination: The small, scented, creamy white flowers attract various insects, including bees, which are essential for pollination.
Seed Dispersal: The fleshy, purplish-black fruits are a highly important food source for numerous bird species. Birds consume the fruits and disperse the seeds, playing a vital role in the spread of the wild olive.
Herbivory: The leaves are browsed by various game animals.
Habitat Provision: Provides shelter and nesting sites for birds and small mammals due to its dense crown. It often forms a dominant part of bushveld or woodlands in semi-arid areas.
Distribution and habitat:
Olea europaea subsp. africana is exceptionally widespread throughout southern Africa and beyond.
South African Provinces: It is found across all nine provinces of South Africa: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Northern Cape, and Western Cape.
Wider Range: Its distribution extends far north through tropical Africa, Arabia, India, and even into China.
Habitat: It is incredibly adaptable, occurring in a wide array of habitats. These include coastal dune bush, high-altitude mountain kloofs, along rivers, in open veld, on rocky koppies, in forests, thickets, bushveld, and grasslands. It thrives in diverse climatic conditions, from sea level up to 1 500 metres (and even higher in other parts of its range).
Derivation of name:
The genus name Olea is Latin for "olive tree," directly referring to the olive plant.
The species epithet europaea is Latin for "of Europe," indicating its historical association with the European cultivated olive.
The subspecies epithet africana is Latin for "of Africa," clearly denoting its African origin and distribution.
The common Afrikaans name 'Olienhout' directly translates to "olive wood," highlighting the value of its timber.
Historical aspects:
Olea europaea subsp. africana is closely related to the domesticated Mediterranean olive tree (Olea europaea subsp. europaea), making it one of the oldest known and most significant trees with a long history of use. Its presence across such a vast geographical range highlights its ancient lineage and adaptability.
Interesting facts:
This tree is super tough! It can survive in really dry places and handle cold frost, making it one of the most adaptable trees in South Africa.
Even though its fruits are small and quite bitter for us, they are a feast for many different bird species, turning your garden into a bird hotspot!
The Wild Olive is closely related to the olive trees that produce the olives and olive oil we eat – it's like their wild, African cousin!
Growing tips:
Propagation: Easily propagated from both seed and cuttings.Seeds: Sow fresh seeds in autumn or spring. It's crucial to remove all the fleshy part of the fruit before sowing, as this can inhibit germination. Germination can be slow and erratic, often taking 6-8 weeks or longer.
Cuttings: Semi-hardwood cuttings (50-100 mm long) taken from active growth during spring or summer root easily. Treat them with a rooting hormone and root them in a mist unit with bottom heating for best results.
Planting: Very adaptable to various soil types, but prefers well-drained soil. It thrives in full sun but can tolerate a wide range of light conditions.
Watering: Once established, it is highly drought-resistant and requires minimal watering. Young plants will benefit from regular watering to ensure good establishment.
Frost: Extremely frost-resistant, making it suitable for many different climatic zones across South Africa.
Maintenance: Generally a low-maintenance tree. It is relatively fast-growing once established. Pruning can be done to shape the tree, control its size, or remove any dead or damaged branches.
Pests/Diseases: Generally quite hardy and not prone to many serious pests or diseases.
This plant is a fantastic alternative for:
Common name
Scientific Name
Plant type:
Plant type
Plant family:
Oleaceae (Latin plant name) - Order: Lamiales