| I have looked through previous FAQS and learned that the Majestic Beauty would be a good choice for a fruitless olive tree. I wonder if your could tell me a little about them. I want to plant one in my front yard. What kind of soil/mix should I use; how far away from a brick wall and drive way; how tall do they grow; do they require alot of pruning; and if there are any other fruitless olives that I should also take a look at? And, where could I see them? Lots of questions, I appreciate any help you can give me! Thank You Gayle Ingram |
| Fruitless olive trees are immensely popular because they produce no (or very little) pollen and do not litter the ground with fruit. They can be quite large at maturity, though, so you might want to investigate 'Little Ollie', a large shrub or small tree, rather than 'Majestic Beauty', which is a large tree at maturity. In a small planting space the roots of a full grown olive tree can be problematic. Olive trees do not require annual pruning but you can control the size to some degree by pruning them back occasionally. They are quite adaptable to may soil types and the spacing from buildings, etc. will depend upon the cultivar you choose. There are a number of fruitless olive trees available and they deserve some consideration: 'Bonita' Introduced in 1961. Less popular than the others. Not really fruitless, but has tiny fruit (like privet's). 'Little Ollie' Introduced in 1987. It's a big, dense shrub, very dark green, excellent as a hedge or screen. Bears almost no fruit. 'Majestic Beauty' Introduced in 1985. Airy- and fluffy-looking, it's also suitable for a hedge or screen. Bears almost no fruit. 'Skylark Dwarf' Introduced in 1969. Typically a multiple-trunked, large, compact shrub. Sets a very small crop some years. 'Swan Hill' From Swan Hill, Victoria, Australia. Introduced to California and Arizona nurseries in 1972. Its leaves are a deep green. Bears no fruit. 'Wilsoni' Introduced in 1979. It was discovered in a grove of Manzanillo olives. Bears no fruit. Hope this information is helpful! |
