The olive willow impresses with its silvery, shimmering leaves, seductively scented flower bells and olive-like, edible fruits. Anyone looking for a robust tree or hedge shrub with a Mediterranean flair that is easy to cut will appreciate the advantages. When planted professionally in the right location, the maintenance effort is almost zero. You can read all the relevant details here in the answers to frequently asked questions.
What are the properties of olive willow?
The olive willow is an undemanding, robust tree with silvery shimmering leaves, fragrant flower bells and edible, olive-like fruits. It is suitable as a tree, shrub or hedge plant and prefers sunny, warm locations in loose, light, sandy-loamy soil.
Planting oil willow correctly
Autumn is the time for planting the olive willow. Now the young heart root system is quickly establishing itself in the sun-warmed soil. Follow these steps:
- Dig a planting pit with twice the volume of the root ball in a sunny to partially shaded location
- Optimize the excavation with compost, horn shavings and some quartz sand or pumice gravel (€15.00 on Amazon)
- Unpot the olive willow and plant it in the middle just below the first pair of leaves
- Tamp down the soil and water it
Finally, make a planting cut to support bushy growth. To do this, shorten all shoots by one to two thirds.
Care tips
The following care program explains why the olive willow is considered a prime example of an undemanding plant:
- The rain covers the water needs in the bed
- Organic starting fertilization in March/April with compost and horn shavings
- In the first two years, light winter protection is recommended
- Pruning back too long shoots and thinning out the tree crown and bush in early spring
- Wear gloves during all care work to protect against possible thorns
Small olive willow species thrive in pots, at least for some time. Regular watering and monthly fertilization from March to August set the stage for vigorous growth. A cover made of foil or fleece keeps the pot with the root ball inside largely frost-free if a block of wood blocks the ground frost.
Which location is suitable?
In keeping with its southern appearance, the olive willow prefers a sunny, warm and protected location. The tree prefers to spread its heart roots in loose, light, sandy-loamy and nutrient-poor soil. Nevertheless, the tree proves to be tolerant of partially shaded locations in any normal garden soil.
The correct planting distance
Trained to be a standard tree, the olive willow sets decorative accents as a solitary small tree. In this case, adjust the planting distance to the expected growth height, especially near buildings and neighboring properties. Cultivated as a shrub in a group or as a hedge, the extremely resilient narrow-leaved olive willow has emerged as the ideal candidate. With a planting distance of 200 to 250 cm, an opaque, harmonious appearance develops.
What soil does the plant need?
As a pioneer plant, the olive willow thrives in almost any soil as long as the water does not accumulate permanently. The tree achieves its optimum in sandy, humus-rich and loose soil, lean and well-drained. For cultivation in the bucket, a compost-based potting soil with sand and little or no peat content can be considered.
Cut oil willow correctly
If the olive willow thrives as a tree in your garden, cut back shoots that are too long every year in early spring. The plant has difficulty coping with a cut into old wood. Take this opportunity to thin out the crown thoroughly so that light and air can reach all regions. Do the same with an oil willow bush. As a hedge plant, this receives an additional topiary in June so that the accurate and well-groomed appearance is maintained in the second half of the year. When cutting, remember that some types of olive willow are armed with thorns.read more
Watering oil pasture
The water supply occupies a subordinate position within the care program. This applies primarily to an outdoor oil pasture. The natural rainfall is sufficient for the tree. Deviating from this, the tree in the planter is watered regularly, as the root ball dries out quickly in a sunny, airy location.
Fertilize oil pasture properly
A well-dosed portion of compost awakens the spirits of an olive pasture in March/April. In addition, no additional nutrient supply is required in the bed. Of course, the supplies in the bucket are quickly used up. From March to August, apply a liquid fertilizer every 3-4 weeks and then water thoroughly.
Wintering
We recommend winter protection in the first two years, as the olive willow only gradually develops its hardiness. Before the first frost, cover the root slice with autumn leaves, straw or brushwood. To prevent an evergreen variety from shedding its leaves, cover the branches with breathable fleece. When growing in containers, it makes sense to cover it with foil or raffia mats every year, as only a little soil protects the root ball from frost. The extremely sensitive variegated olive willow ideally moves to a frost-free, bright winter quarters.
Increase oil willow
Specific propagation is possible using cuttings. If the olive willow is full of sap, cut 10-15 cm long, non-flowering head cuttings. The lower half is defoliated to prevent rot from forming in the substrate. Place the cuttings two-thirds of their length in a pot with lean potting or transplanting soil. In a partially shaded, protected location, rooting occurs quickly with regular water supply. Care for the young plants until the container is completely rooted. You can plant out your pupils in spring or autumn.
Oil willow in a pot
You can cultivate olive willow in a bucket for at least a few years. The top priority for a successful course is a balanced supply of water and nutrients. Use high-quality potted plant soil as a substrate that is both structurally stable and water-retaining. Water regularly when the soil has dried out. From March to August, apply liquid fertilizer every 3-4 weeks. To ensure that the ornamental tree retains its shape, cut the shoots into shape every late winter. If possible, avoid cutting into the old wood. Every 2 or 3 years, repot the shrub or tree into fresh substrate.
Are the fruits of an olive willow edible?
The pea-sized to oblong, reddish fruits are edible. Of course, don't expect any culinary delights, as the floury pulp has hardly any aroma. In addition, the inside of the berries remains rock hard. Rich in vitamin C and protein, the fruits of the narrow-leaved olive willow are very popular in the Orient and are eaten there as food. We recommend leaving the berries on the tree and bush so that the garden birds can enjoy them during the harsh winter.read more
Beautiful varieties
- Silver oil willow: Thornless shrub with silvery leaves, yellowish flowers and small fruits on reddish-brown branches; 2-2.5m
- Narrow-leaved Olive Willow: Majestic tree with lanceolate leaves, fragrant flowers and yellow, edible fruits; 7m
- Polar Lights: A Russian olive willow, deciduous, silvery foliage and slightly thorny; ideal for bird protection hedges; 4-6 m
- Maculata: The colorful, rather small variety impresses with yellow-green leaves, yellow flowers and tiny fruits; 1-2 m
- Coral Oil Willow: Slightly curled leaves on thorny branches with fragrant flowers and reddish berries; 3-4 m
