San Felipe Olive Co. can supply trees for orchard planting in a wide range of varieties.

Olive Trees

While we occasionally have olive trees available from leftovers of recent plantings, we have not been able to maintain an olive tree nursery. When we have trees available we will post a notice on this page. Call for details and availability when you see the notice.

This information is a compilation of our experience planting olive trees in the Southern California region. Generally we have a more arid, dry climate than Northern California and we must adjust our farming methods accordingly.

It is our experience that trees are best planted in the fall or spring of the year, with spring being our preference. With that in mind, we suggest that the trees for your orchard be purchased in the summer or fall for spring planting and in the spring for fall planting. They can be purchased as starters and immediately planted into one gallon pots which will give them time to become vigorous, hardy trees by planting time. We do not recommend planting propagated starters in the field as they require tender care and attention, and a certain amount of loss is inevitable.

Below we describe varieties that are hardy, high yield, superior character and quality of oil, and available. Having said that, some of these varieties are more suitable for cold, higher climates than others. Koroneiki, for example, is not recommended for high cold climates. We would be glad to help you plant your own olive orchard. See our page on Orchard Management.

Translated from Italian as ‘Olive Mill’, this classic Tuscan variety produces a very flavorful and distinctive oil. It is a self- pollinating, high and consistent fruitfulness, medium vigor tree. It is noted for its high rooting ability and adaptability to a variety of soils and conditions. Fruit is late maturing, average in size, with high (up to 25%) oil content.
Widespread throughout the lake region of Lombardy, it is known as the oil of Lake Garda; fine, light and very aromatic. This is a variety of good vigor, notable height and self-pollinating even though it benefits from a pollinator such as Pendolino. It has high, constant production and a very high oil yield (22-25%). It is hardy and adaptable to a variety of conditions.
Originating in the area of Puglia, it has high, consistent productivity and high (21-26%) oil output. It is self-sterile and requires a pollinator such as Frantoio. It is very adaptable to variety of soils and conditions, and is resistant to drought, cold and in general olive tree parasites. It is mid to late ripening and has a very fruity oil.
This Tuscan variety has an early and lengthy flower and abundant pollen which is why it is coveted as a polliniser for other Tuscan varieties. It is a slow growing cultivar with very obvious weeping branches. Because of this it is well suited to manual harvesting. It has high fruitfulness and the oil has a pleasant, delicate flavor.
This variety originates in Catalonia, Spain. It is rated highly for its early, high and constant productivity. The tree is a small and bushy, and responds well to pruning. It is an excellent choice for high density to super-high density plantings. It is resistant to cold and frost. It has a small symmetrically round fruit which matures in stages through November. The fruit is high in oil (20-22%) and has a distinct character with good organoleptic characteristics.
This Spanish variety is prized for it small stature and high yields. For that reason it is an excellent choice for high to super high density plantings. It is late maturing and has a tendency toward alternate bearing. It is resistant to cold. It has a very good yield in oil (19-20%) and a high quality unique fruity flavor.
This is the dominant variety of Spain. It is a vigorous tree with an open expansive crown. It is an early producer with high constant yields. It is resistant to cold and adapts well to diverse soils and conditions. The fruit matures in November/December and has a very high oil yield (23-28%) of very good quality.
Koroneiki is the principle variety of Greece. It accounts for 50-60% of the country's olive growing acreage. It is a tree of medium vigor with a spreading habit and open canopy. It is an early bearer and flowers early producing copious amounts of pollen. It is resistant to drought but does not tolerate cold. The fruit matures early to intermediate (October/November) and is high yielding with very high oil content. The oil is very pleasant and high in oleic acid and very stable.
This is a handsome tree of strong vigor with an erect growth habit and canopy of medium density. The leaves are distinctively long, broad and flat. Productivity is high but alternating. The olives are large, of high weight with a distinctive elongated shape. While it makes excellent oil it is mostly known for Greek style black olives. It is moderately resistant to cold but sensitive to excessive heat.
Mission is the only true American variety. It was originally cultivated for table olives, green and black. It is a tree of strong vigor and erect habit. It is resistant to cold and considered hardy. Productivity is medium and alternate. Ripening is late, perhaps into the next year. The fruit has a good oil output (22%) and is mild and buttery in flavor.

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