can you grow olive plants in the deep south (grown, trees, olives)

[meadgrad]

specifically the Atlanta area?

Thanks!

[skytrekker]

Atlanta is probably too humid for olives to be grown- The tree prefers more dry temperate to dry subtropical climates to thrive- Also Atlanta may have more cold in the winter then the plant desires. Though with climate change this is probably changing.

The plant thrives in California's coastal and some hot inland Mediterranean areas in the Golden state. You could give it a try- the plant originates from the dry Mediterranean areas of southern Europe and North Africa, and likes a climate that mimics those conditions.

[elston]

I used to volunteer as a teachers aide in an old mission school on an Indian Reservation in California......there was an ancient grove of olive trees in the school yard. I am sure the padres planted and harvested them back in the early days.....but now no one picks them....and they are very messy trees when the fruit drops.....especially in the playgound of an elementary school. LOL

[wit-nit]

Olive tree will grow in Southern states, and yes in Atlanta. A non messy tree would be the semi-steriile Russian Olive. Olive trees will grow in zones 5-9 which covers most southern states.
You can google olive tree dealers in GA.

[wit-nit]

If you want a good descriptive site for your Dactylifera this is a good one:
Date

[skytrekker]

Originally Posted by nitram

Olive tree will grow in Southern states, and yes in Atlanta. A non messy tree would be the semi-steriile Russian Olive. Olive trees will grow in zones 5-9 which covers most southern states.
You can google olive tree dealers in GA.

Concerning the hardiness of an Olive Tree

from wikipedia

In general, a temperature below 14 °F (-10 °C) may cause considerable injury to a mature tree, but (with the exception of juvenile trees) a temperature of 16 °F (-9 °C) will normally cause no harm.

This makes it hardy from a zone 8 and up- zones from 5-7 will be too cold.

[Nomadicus]

The sterile Russian olives grow in Zone 5 in MO. At least back in the 70's they were plentiful in N MO.

[michaelmac500]

Originally Posted by Nomadicus

The sterile Russian olives grow in Zone 5 in MO. At least back in the 70's they were plentiful in N MO.

I think the original poster is talking about Mediterranean olives (Olea europaea) This plant is hardy in dry areas that are a solid z8.

This is a nice one in El Paso (around 60 years old)




Russian olive (Elaeagnus augustifolia) is an entirely different tree, and is hardy to around z4.

Atlanta is border line between z7-z8 with a humid wet climate. I doubt Olea europaea would do very well there.

[wit-nit]

As many professionals have noted, in the past, Wikpedia is not always accurate.

[elston]

Originally Posted by michaelmac500

I think the original poster is talking about Mediterranean olives (Olea europaea) This plant is hardy in dry areas that are a solid z8.

This is a nice one in El Paso (around 60 years old)




Russian olive (Elaeagnus augustifolia) is an entirely different tree, and is hardy to around z4.

Atlanta is border line between z7-z8 with a humid wet climate. I doubt Olea europaea would do very well there.

I believe I saw Russian Olive listed as an invasive alien species because the birds spread their seeds. I know it said somewhere that they were infertile.....but my experience says otherwise.