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Mission Olive Tree

$9995 $15995
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Risk-Free 1 Year Warranty
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Your Plants are Guaranteed to Grow

Your plants are guaranteed to arrive happy & healthy with our 1 Year Warranty. Your order will arrive healthy and stay healthy while they adapt to your climate. If your tree arrives damaged or dies within 30 days, we'll replace it for free. If it dies after 30 days, but before 1 year, we will replace it for just 50% of the current price.

Free Shipping on All Orders

Relax... we've got you covered with free shipping on every order! We ship out so many huge plants, we've negotiated a low rate with our carriers... and we pass those savings on to you! Your plants will ship out the next business day... expertly packed so that your plants will arrive happy and healthy!

Is Now a Good Time to Plant?

Yes! Fall is one of the best times to plant!

Landscaping experts often recommend planting in fall instead of waiting until spring. Here’s why:

  • Cooler weather puts less stress on newly planted trees and shrubs.
  • Fall soil is still warm, which helps roots grow and get established.
  • Cooler temperatures mean less water is lost through the leaves, making it easier for plants to stay hydrated.
  • Even after top growth slows for winter, roots continue developing below ground.
  • Fall weather often brings more rain and less heat, making new plants easier to care for.
  • By spring, your plants already have a head start. Their established roots can support strong new leaves, branches, and flowers.
  • Trees planted in spring must establish their roots while also dealing with rising temperatures and summer heat.

Plant this fall, and your trees can spend the cooler months getting settled instead of waiting until spring to get started!

Planting your Mission Olive Tree

Planting Instructions for Mission Olive Tree

  1. Choosing the Right Location: Grow Mission Olive in full sun in a warm, open location in USDA zones 8 through 11. It performs especially well where summers are hot and dry. Mission is one of the more cold-tolerant olives; in colder areas, grow it in a container that can move to a protected spot for winter.
  2. Soil Preparation: Plant in well-drained soil, even lean or rocky ground, and avoid wet areas where water stays around the roots. Rich amendments are not needed.
  3. Planting: Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep, setting the tree level with the ground. Left to grow naturally, it can reach 20 to 30 feet tall and 15 to 18 feet wide over time, so allow plenty of room or plan on regular pruning. It arrives as a young 2 to 3 foot tree.
  4. Mulching and First Watering: Water deeply after planting. A thin layer of gravel or mulch, kept away from the trunk, helps hold moisture while roots establish.

Care Instructions

  1. Watering: Water regularly while the tree is becoming established. Mature trees handle heat and dry weather well with less frequent watering. Container trees need water when the top couple of inches of soil dry out.
  2. Fertilizing: Feed lightly in spring with a balanced or olive-and-citrus fertilizer. Overfeeding produces leafy growth at the expense of fruit. Water before and after feeding and follow the label rate, since too much fertilizer can burn roots and cause weak, floppy growth.
  3. Pest and Disease Monitoring: Check for scale insects on stems and leaves, especially on container trees wintered indoors. Soggy soil leads to root rot, so drainage matters most.

Maintenance and Long-Term Care

  1. Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring to thin crowded branches, open the center to light and keep the tree a manageable size for courtyards, patios and borders.
  2. Frost Protection: Young trees are more cold-sensitive than established ones, so cover them with frost cloth during hard freezes. Move container trees to a garage or bright protected spot before freezing weather.
  3. Growing in Containers: Young trees grow well in large outdoor pots with excellent drainage. Light pruning keeps potted trees a manageable size, and a bright, cool but frost-free winter spot suits them best.

Additional Tips for Growing Mission Olive Tree

  1. Pollination: Mission is self-fertile, so one tree can set fruit without a second variety. Olive flowers are wind-pollinated, so an open site with good air movement helps fruit set.
  2. Years to Fruit: Young olive trees typically begin bearing around 3 to 5 years after planting, and long-lived Mission trees keep producing for many years.
  3. Harvest and Curing: Fresh olives are very bitter and must be cured. Pick green for a firmer texture and milder flavor, or let them ripen dark for a richer taste; ripe olives can also be pressed for fruity oil. It cannot ship to Hawaii or Alaska.
What Customers say about the Mission Olive Tree:

The Mission Olive Tree thrives in Zones Indoors (zones 8-11 outdoors)

Growing Zones for the Mission Olive Tree

If you live in the green area above, we recommend the Mission Olive Tree.

Your Growing Zone
Recommended Zones Indoors (zones 8-11 outdoors)
Mature Height 20-30 ft.
Mature Width 15-18 ft.
Cannot Ship To HI, AK
Sunlight Full Sun
Botanical Name Olea europaea ‘Mission’

Plants that Make a Difference

For 20+ years, our team has shipped healthy, established plants to gardeners like you- all across the country. Every plant is selected and cared for by our plant experts before it ships to your door.

  • 20+ Years Experience

  • Superior Quality

  • Free Shipping on All Orders

  • Guaranteed to Grow

Beware- not all Mission Olive Trees are the same.

Be sure to get superior olive trees, grown by experts.

Better Roots Make Stronger Plants: Some nurseries send you "bare root" olive trees to save on shipping. Even worse, others have started digging them right out of the ground before shipping. This causes major transplant shock and long-term damage. We send you Mission Olive Trees in soil-filled containers- ensuring a well-developed root system that is ready to grow and produce!

Healthy Plants: We've seen other nurseries grow tall olive trees in tiny pots to save on shipping. This leads to a "root bound" tree, where the roots have outgrown their pot- they cannot absorb water and nutrients. They quickly dry out during shipment, leading to an unhealthy tree.

The Mission Olive is a classic California olive- great for curing or pressing, with beautiful silver-green foliage.

  • Table olives and oil: pick green for a milder cure or ripe for richer flavor
  • Self-fertile- one tree can set fruit on its own
  • One of the more cold-tolerant olives, grown outdoors in zones 8-11
  • Drought tolerant once established, or grow it in a large pot you can move for winter

Not all plants are created equal

The Difference Is in the Roots

Every plant we ship has grown in a nursery container with its roots protected, so it arrives healthy, established and ready to thrive in your yard.

A full, branched Nationwide Plants tree in a nursery pot next to a thin bare-root tree with exposed roots Ours: container grown Theirs: bare root
Nationwide Plants Other Nurseries
How it's grown Grown in a nursery container, roots protected the whole time Pulled or dug from the field, tearing fragile roots
How it arrives Arrives in its pot with soil intact Arrives bare root, exposed and drying out
Before shipping Growing naturally until it ships Held dormant in a cooler, then shocked by a hot shipping box
Root health Strong, well-developed roots with room to grow Crammed into a small pot until it's root bound
Height Measured from the top of the soil Often includes the pot and roots
After planting Settles in quickly with less transplant shock Arrives stressed and can take years to recover, if it does

The height you see is the height you plant.

We measure every plant from the top of the soil, not the bottom of the pot. Many nurseries include the pot and roots, so a "5–6 ft." tree from them might stand only 4 ft. tall once it's planted.

Comparisons reflect common practices across the online plant industry, not any single company.

Honest Measurements: Some nurseries measure trees including the pot and roots, so their "2-3 ft." tree may only be about half that size when planted. We measure all of our plants from the soil line, so the height you see is what you can expect after planting.

From our nursery to your door

How We Ship Your Plants

Every order is hand-selected, watered and carefully packed so it arrives healthy and ready to plant. Here's what happens after you place your order.

  1. Hand-Picked for You

    Our team selects the best plant available for your order. For privacy trees, that's the tallest and fullest. For fruit trees, it's the best branched.

    Why it matters: Many online nurseries ship whatever is next in the row.

  2. A Deep Drink Before the Trip

    Every plant gets a thorough watering right before it's packed, so it starts the journey fully hydrated.

  3. Roots Sealed In

    We wrap the pot and roots in plastic to lock in moisture, so your plant has water to drink all the way to your door.

    Why it matters: Bare-root plants are often shipped with their roots exposed and drying out.

  4. Braced for the Ride

    Cardboard inserts are secured inside every box to hold your plant in place, so it won't slide, tip or get damaged in transit.

  5. Shipped Only by FedEx

    We ship your trees exclusively with FedEx. We've found they deliver the fastest and handle live plants the most gently.

And if anything goes wrong, every plant is backed by our 1 Year Warranty.

Healthy Roots Make a Huge Difference

  • Never buy bare-root plants. These trees are starved of nutrients, and have a low survival rate.
  • Beware of nurseries cut corners by growing in small pots. These "rootbound" plants are weak, struggle to absorb nutrients, and die quickly after planting.
  • Some nurseries try to sell oversized plants, but chop off vital roots so they can cram the rootball into a narrow box to save on shipping!

You Want Mission Olive Trees Grown by Experts

Some nurseries ship thin, underdeveloped olive trees grown in tiny pots to save money. These weak, "root bound" trees can spend years recovering before they give you a real harvest.

Nationwide Plants only sends you strong Mission Olive Trees, selected and cared for by our plant experts, with healthy, developed root systems. A strong start helps your tree settle in quickly and begin producing olives, often around 3-5 years after planting.

Read more about the Mission Olive Tree

Mission Olive Tree: Classic California Olive for Fruit, Oil, and Evergreen Beauty

Bring Mediterranean style and homegrown harvests to your landscape with the Mission Olive Tree. This classic California olive is valued for both its fruit and its beauty, making it a great choice for edible gardens, sunny courtyards, patios, and warm-climate landscapes.

Mission Olive Trees produce medium-sized olives that can be picked green for a milder flavor or allowed to ripen dark for a richer taste. The fruit can be cured for eating or pressed for flavorful olive oil.

Why You'll Love the Mission Olive Tree

Great for Table Olives and Oil: Mission olives can be cured for eating or used to make rich, fruity olive oil.

Self-Fertile: One Mission Olive Tree can produce fruit on its own, so you do not need a second variety for pollination.

Cold Hardy for an Olive: Mission is one of the more cold-tolerant olive varieties and performs well in many warm and mild climates.

Drought Tolerant Once Established: Mature trees handle heat and dry weather well with less frequent watering.

Evergreen Foliage: Narrow gray-green leaves with silvery undersides add year-round color and texture.

Long-Lived: Olive trees can remain productive and beautiful for many years with proper care.

What Do Mission Olives Taste Like?

Mission Olives are known for a rich, mellow flavor after they are properly cured. Green fruit has a milder taste, while fully ripened dark olives develop a deeper flavor.

The fruit can also be pressed for oil with a fruity flavor and a light peppery finish.

Grow Olives for Fresh Curing or Homemade Oil

Mission is a true dual-purpose olive tree. You can harvest the fruit at different stages depending on how you want to use it.

Green Olives: Pick earlier in the season for a firmer texture and milder cured flavor.

Dark Olives: Allow the fruit to ripen longer for a richer flavor when cured.

Olive Oil: Ripe Mission olives can also be pressed to make flavorful oil.

Does the Mission Olive Tree Need a Pollinator?

No. Mission Olive is self-fertile, so one tree can set fruit on its own.

This makes it a good choice for smaller yards, patios, and other spaces where you may only have room for one olive tree.

Beautiful Silver-Green Evergreen Foliage

The Mission Olive Tree is attractive even when it is not producing fruit. Its narrow leaves are gray-green on top with silvery undersides that catch the light and move in the wind.

This soft silver color gives the tree a classic Mediterranean look and pairs well with stone, gravel, lavender, rosemary, and other drought-tolerant plants.

Where to Plant a Mission Olive Tree

Edible Landscapes: Grow it for both attractive evergreen foliage and useful fruit.

Mediterranean Gardens: Its silver leaves and graceful shape fit perfectly with warm, dry landscape designs.

Screening: Allow the tree to grow larger for evergreen height and structure.

Courtyards: Keep it pruned to create a smaller ornamental tree in a sunny outdoor space.

Patio Containers: Young trees can grow in large outdoor pots with excellent drainage.

Mission Olive Tree Sun and Soil Needs

Sunlight: Plant your Mission Olive Tree in full sun for the strongest growth and best fruit production.

Soil: Olive trees prefer well-drained soil and can handle lean or rocky ground. Avoid wet areas where water stays around the roots.

Watering: Water regularly while the tree is becoming established. Once mature, Mission Olive becomes much more drought tolerant.

A Tough Tree for Warm, Dry Landscapes

Mission Olive performs especially well in areas with hot, dry summers. Once established, it can handle periods of drought better than many common fruit trees.

It is also considered one of the more cold-tolerant olive varieties and is commonly grown in USDA Zones 8–11.

How Big Does a Mission Olive Tree Grow?

When allowed to grow naturally, a Mission Olive Tree can reach about 20 to 30 feet tall over time.

Regular pruning can keep it smaller for courtyards, patios, borders, and other landscapes where you want a more controlled size.

Easy Care With Long-Term Rewards

Mission Olive Trees are tough and adaptable once established. Give them plenty of sun, excellent drainage, and enough room for the roots to grow.

Light pruning can help control size, improve shape, and make harvesting easier.

A Classic Olive Tree With Beauty and Purpose

If you want an olive tree with self-fertile fruit, table and oil uses, drought tolerance, evergreen foliage, and classic Mediterranean style, Mission Olive is an excellent choice.

Plant a Mission Olive Tree and enjoy silver-green beauty, homegrown olives, and a timeless landscape tree that can reward you for decades.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Mission Olive Tree

How big does a Mission Olive Tree get?

A Mission Olive Tree can reach about 20 to 30 feet tall and 15 to 18 feet wide when allowed to grow naturally over time. Regular pruning keeps it much smaller for courtyards, patios, and borders, so you can enjoy a manageable tree with the same silver-green beauty and fruit.

Is the Mission Olive Tree self-fertile?

Yes, the Mission Olive Tree is self-fertile, so one tree can set fruit on its own without a second variety for pollination. That makes it a good choice for smaller yards, patios, and other spaces where you may only have room for a single olive tree.

Can you eat Mission olives?

Yes, Mission olives can be eaten after they are properly cured. Fresh olives are very bitter straight from the tree. Pick them green for a firmer texture and milder cured flavor, or let them ripen dark for a richer taste. Ripe Mission olives can also be pressed for fruity oil.

How cold hardy is the Mission Olive Tree?

Mission is one of the more cold-tolerant olive varieties and is commonly grown in USDA zones 8 through 11. Young trees are more sensitive than established ones, so cover them during hard freezes. In colder areas, grow Mission in a container that can be moved to a protected spot for winter.

How long until a Mission Olive Tree produces fruit?

Young olive trees typically begin bearing around 3 to 5 years after planting, depending on the size of the tree and growing conditions. Mission trees are long-lived and can remain productive for many years, with harvests increasing as the tree matures.

Does a Mission Olive Tree need full sun?

Yes, a Mission Olive Tree needs full sun for the strongest growth and best fruit production. Choose a warm, open location with plenty of direct sunlight. It performs especially well in areas with hot, dry summers, where it thrives with little fuss once established.

Is Mission Olive drought tolerant?

Yes, mature Mission Olive Trees handle heat and dry weather well with less frequent watering. Water regularly while the tree is becoming established. Plant it in well-drained soil, even lean or rocky ground, and avoid wet areas where water stays around the roots.

Can you grow a Mission Olive Tree in a pot?

Yes, young Mission Olive Trees can grow in large outdoor pots with excellent drainage. Container growing is a great option in colder climates, since the tree can be moved to a protected location before hard freezes. Light pruning helps keep potted trees a manageable size.

What does a Mission Olive Tree look like?

A Mission Olive Tree has narrow gray-green leaves with silvery undersides that catch the light and move in the wind. This soft silver color gives it a classic Mediterranean look and pairs beautifully with stone, gravel, lavender, rosemary, and other drought-tolerant plants.

Which states can the Mission Olive Tree not ship to?

The Mission Olive Tree cannot be shipped to Hawaii (HI) or Alaska (AK). It can be shipped throughout the continental United States, arriving as a young 2 to 3 foot tree. In colder regions, grow it in a container that can come indoors for winter.
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