The MISSION Gourmet Cold-Hardy Olive Tree

Mission Olive Tree: Grow Your Own Gourmet Olives

The all-purpose California classic: a hardy, self-fertile olive that gives you table fruit, fragrant oil, and a silver-leafed evergreen that anchors a Mediterranean garden.

The 'Mission' olive traces back to the Spanish Franciscan missions of 18th-century California, where it was planted for both fruit and oil. It produces medium, oval black olives prized for their rich, mellow flavor when cured and for a fruity, slightly peppery oil. The tree itself is a graceful evergreen with narrow gray-green leaves and a silvery underside that shimmers in the wind, making it as much a landscape feature as a producer.

Why growers choose the Mission

• Dual-purpose harvest. Pick green for milder table olives or let the fruit ripen to black for a deeper cured flavor and quality oil.
• Self-fertile. A single tree will set fruit on its own, so you do not need a second variety to get a crop.
• Cold-tolerant for an olive. Mission is among the more cold-hardy cultivars, holding up well in zones 8 through 11 where many olives struggle.
• Evergreen, drought-tough beauty. Once established, it shrugs off heat and dry spells, and its silver foliage stays handsome year-round.
• Long-lived and adaptable. Thrives in lean, well-draining soil and rewards patience with decades of productivity.

Given room, it matures into a 20 to 30 ft. specimen or screening tree; kept pruned, it suits a courtyard, a sunny patio container, or a Mediterranean-style border where its form and color carry the design.

The Mission Olive Tree is the backyard all-star for home growers who want both beauty and bounty. Whether you're in it for rich, flavorful oil or classic table olives, this versatile tree delivers.

Originally cultivated in California, the Mission Olive Tree is known for its resilience, especially in cooler climates. Its small pit-to-flesh ratio means more olive per bite, and its naturally high oil content makes it a favorite for pressing.

In the landscape, it matures to a stately 20–30 feet tall, adding Mediterranean charm to any space. Prefer something more compact? Keep it pruned in a container for a patio-friendly or even indoor tree with rustic appeal.

Why You'll Love Mission Olives

• Excellent for both oil production and pickling
• Cold-hardy and adaptable to a variety of climates
• One of the smallest pits among olive varieties—more flesh, less waste
• Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established
• Container-friendly—grow it on patios or indoors with good light
• Attractive evergreen foliage for year-round interest

Shipping Details

Please note: Due to regulations, this plant does not ship to AK or HI.

U.S.A. shipping rates are calculated at checkout.

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The Mission Olive Tree brings a taste of the grove to your garden—no passport needed.