When Do Olive Trees Bloom?

Olive trees (Olea europaea) grow slowly and persist in mild-winter climate regions that also have hot, dry summers. The tiny creamy white flowers are fragrant and occur in clusters on branch ends among the leaves. Each blossom reveals four lobes.

Time Frame

Olive trees bloom anytime from mid-spring to early summer. Precise timing depends on local climate. The warmer the temperature, the earlier the flowering commences and it may continue for a few weeks across various branches on the tree.

Considerations

Research published in the "New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science" in 2006 suggests that olive trees bloom best after a cool period in winter. If temperatures remain below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the return of warmth in spring yields more consistent, widespread flowering all at once across the tree. If winters are too mild, trees bloom slightly later in spring or early summer.

Development

Olive flower buds are already formed by fall on the branches and remain dormant across the winter. Exposure to chilly temperatures primes the buds for final development for flowering sometime in spring.

Olive Trees Be?

Olive trees produce dense foliage, with a wispy appeal, while growing upward to a maximum height of 50 feet. Because olive trees prefer full sunlight, this spacing prevents harmful shadowing that hinders fruit production lower on the canopy body. Growing one line of trees in this hedge shape still allows light to penetrate the entire canopy for optimum fruit growth, but you should not plant multiple rows with this spacing. Your soil type also dictates olive tree spacing, based on rich and fertile conditions. Olive trees planted within deep and nutrient-rich soils spread their roots farther than plants located in dry and shallow locations.