Frantoio Potted Olive Tree

Frantoio is a classic Italian olive cultivar grown for oil. The tree develops an open canopy with long, slender, flexible fruiting branches and medium, elongated olives.

• Botanical name: Olea europaea 'Frantoio'
• Plant form: One potted nursery tree; size varies by season
• Organic status: Not sold as certified organic
• Origin: Italy
• Primary use: Oil
• USDA zones: 8–10
• Sun: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained soil
• Growth habit: Vigorous standard tree with an open canopy and flexible branches
• Pollination: Often capable of setting some fruit alone, but another compatible cultivar flowering at the same time may improve fruit set
• Harvest: Fruit may be harvested while green to purple for oil; timing and finished oil character vary by climate, maturity, and processing

Planting and care

Choose a full-sun site with excellent drainage. Dig a hole no deeper than the root ball and wider than the container. Set the tree at the same soil level it had in the pot, backfill with native soil, and water thoroughly. Keep the root zone evenly moist during establishment without leaving it waterlogged.

Prune lightly to develop a balanced canopy and remove dead, damaged, or crossing growth. Mature size, flowering, harvest timing, and crop size vary with climate, tree age, pruning, pollination, water, and care. Container-grown trees require more frequent irrigation and periodic root and canopy management.

Olives are bitter directly from the tree and must be cured before eating. See our olive growing guide, shop olive trees, or browse all potted fruit trees.