Common Olive Tree (Olea europaea)

Silvery-green foliage and that effortlessly Mediterranean look.

The Common Olive Tree, botanically known as Olea europaea, brings a completely different kind of greenery indoors with slender silvery-green leaves, graceful branching, and a naturally sculptural tree-like shape.

Its soft gray-green foliage works beautifully in neutral, organic, Mediterranean, and modern interiors, adding height and texture without the dense tropical look of many traditional houseplants.

Slow-growing and long-lived, a potted Olive Tree is especially beautiful beside a sunny window, in a bright living room, or anywhere you want the look of a small indoor tree with a lighter, airier silhouette.

Why You’ll Love It

• Beautiful silvery-green foliage
  Narrow evergreen leaves have green tops and silvery undersides, giving the tree a soft, muted color from every angle.
• A natural sculptural shape
  Graceful branching creates an organic, collected look that becomes even more characterful as the tree matures.
• Perfect for sun-filled rooms
  Olive Trees love bright light and are a great option for spaces with the kind of direct sun many houseplants can’t handle.
• Slow-growing and long-lived
  This is a plant you can enjoy for years rather than something that quickly outgrows its space.
• Instant Mediterranean style
  Its silvery foliage pairs beautifully with warm woods, stone, linen, terracotta, and other natural textures.

Best For

Sunny living rooms • Bright entryways • Sunrooms • South-facing windows • Patios • Mediterranean interiors • Statement spaces • Indoor tree lovers

Care at a Glance

Light: Very bright light to full sun; ideally 6+ hours of direct sun
Water: Allow the upper portion of the soil to dry before watering thoroughly
Humidity: Average to dry household humidity is suitable
Difficulty: Beginner-friendly to intermediate
Pet Friendly: Not confidently verified in a major veterinary toxicity database, so avoid making a pet-safe claim

Styling Tip

Keep this one simple and let the shape of the tree do the decorating.

The Common Olive Tree looks especially beautiful in terracotta, warm white ceramic, stone, concrete, or other earthy planters. Place it beside a large sunny window, sofa, console, or in a bright entryway where its airy branching can be appreciated.

It’s also one of those rare plants that can make a room feel more finished without making it feel more crowded.

Good to Know

Olive Trees are sun lovers, not low-light houseplants.

For the healthiest indoor growth, place your Olive Tree in your brightest available location, ideally somewhere receiving several hours of direct sunlight each day. 

Good drainage is equally important. Olive Trees naturally prefer sharply drained soil and are much more tolerant of drying out than sitting in wet, heavy soil. Allow the upper portion of the potting mix to dry before watering thoroughly, and always let excess water escape.

If you're searching for a sun-loving indoor tree with silvery foliage, the Common Olive Tree brings Mediterranean character, sculptural growth, and timeless greenery to bright indoor spaces.