Best Olive Tree Varieties for Gardens, Pots, Oil and Eating
Olive varieties compared: Arbequina, Koroneiki, Picual, Manzanillo, Kalamata, Leccino, Frantoio and more, with uses, size, hardiness and pollination.
There are more than a thousand olive varieties, but only a dozen or so are widely sold. The right one depends on what you want: a small tree for a pot, olives to cure, or fruit for oil. For most home gardens, Arbequina is the safest first choice.
Quick Comparison
| Variety | Origin | Main use | Size | Cold tolerance | Self-fertile? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arbequina | Spain | Oil, small table olives | Compact | Good | Largely yes |
| Koroneiki | Greece | Oil | Small to medium | Lower | Largely yes |
| Picual | Spain | Oil | Vigorous | Good | Largely yes |
| Arbosana | Spain | Oil | Compact | Medium | Largely yes |
| Manzanillo | Spain | Table (green and black) | Medium | Lower | Partly; pollinator helps |
| Kalamata | Greece | Table | Large | Medium | Partly |
| Leccino | Italy | Oil | Medium | Good | No; needs pollinator |
| Frantoio | Italy | Oil | Medium to large | Medium to good | Largely yes |
| Mission | California | Oil and black table olives | Large | Good | Partly |
| Hojiblanca | Spain | Oil and table | Medium | Good | Partly |
Best Olive Trees for Pots and Small Gardens
- Arbequina: naturally compact, bears young (often in year 2–3 from a nursery plant), small fruit, mild buttery oil.
- Arbosana: similar to Arbequina, a little later and even more compact.
- Koroneiki: small leaves and tiny fruit, very productive, but best in mild climates.
- Dwarf ornamental forms such as 'Little Ollie' are sold for patios but produce little or no fruit.
Best Varieties for Table Olives
- Manzanillo: the classic green "Spanish" olive; large, round fruit.
- Kalamata: almond-shaped, dark purple, cured in brine and vinegar.
- Gordal: very large green olives, needs warmth.
- Mission: dual-purpose, dark when ripe, hardier than most table types.
Best Varieties for Olive Oil
- Picual: high oil content, robust, peppery oil that keeps well.
- Koroneiki: intense, green, very stable oil.
- Arbequina: fruity, mild oil; the most planted variety in hedgerow groves.
- Frantoio and Leccino: the Tuscan pair; Leccino needs a pollinator such as Frantoio or Pendolino.
Best Varieties for Cold Areas
Choose Arbequina, Leccino, Frantoio, Picual or Mission, and give any variety a warm, sheltered position. Avoid Koroneiki and Manzanillo in places with regular frost.
Pollination
Olives are wind pollinated. Many varieties set some fruit alone, but almost all set more with a different variety flowering at the same time within about 30 m (100 ft). If space allows two trees, pair complementary varieties, for example Frantoio with Leccino or Arbequina with Arbosana.
More Olive Tree Guides
- How to Grow Olive Trees: The Complete Guide
- Growing olive trees in pots
- Growing olive trees from seed and cuttings
- Olive tree fertilizer
Frequently Asked Questions
Which olive tree is best for beginners?
Arbequina: compact, early bearing, largely self-fertile and relatively cold tolerant.
Which olive variety is best for eating?
Manzanillo and Kalamata are the classic table varieties; Mission and Hojiblanca are good dual-purpose choices.
Do dwarf olive trees produce olives?
Ornamental dwarf forms produce few or none. Naturally compact fruiting varieties like Arbequina are better if you want olives.
Are fruitless olive trees real?
Yes. Varieties such as 'Swan Hill' and 'Wilsonii' are sold as fruitless or near-fruitless ornamentals, mainly to avoid mess and pollen.
TarlaTapan guides focus on practical, field-tested growing advice. Corrections and suggestions are welcome at info@tarlatapan.tr.