OLIVE / Olea Europaea 'Tolley's Upright'

Tolley's Upright Olive

Botanical Name: OLIVE / Olea europaea 'Tolley's Upright'
Family: Oleaceae
Origin: Mediterranean
Plant Type: Evergreen tree (can be clipped as a narrow shrub/hedge)

Overview

A superb columnar olive for Adelaide and South Australian gardens where space is tight but style matters. ‘Tolley’s Upright’ stays naturally narrow and vertical, giving you classic silver foliage and Mediterranean character without stealing width. Heat-, wind- and coastal-tolerant, it’s ideal beside driveways, pools and paths, or anywhere a slim, low-mess evergreen screen is needed.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 4–6 m H × 3–4 m W (readily maintained at 2–3 m H × 0.8–1.2 m W by clipping)
• Growth Rate: 20-40 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Narrow grey-green leaves with silvery undersides; new growth pale green; may show soft olive/bronze tints in heat or winter cold
• Flowers: Small creamy-white sprays in late spring; fruit set is minimal to none on this selection
  
• Seasonal Interest: Year-round silver foliage and elegant vertical form; subtle spring bloom; attractive branching and bark in winter
• Wildlife Value: Limited pollinator interest (flowers are mainly wind-pollinated); little to no fruit = reduced bird drop
• Tolerance: Drought-Tolerant (once established), Heat-Tolerant, Coastal-Tolerant, Wind-Tolerant, Frost hardy once established; Clay-Tolerant if well-drained
• Planting Density: Narrow hedge/screen: 0.6–1.0 m apart (tight) or 1–1.2 m (looser). Specimen/avenue: 2–3 m apart
• Pet Friendly: Generally non-toxic; avoid pet access to any olive pits (choking/GI risk)

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun (6+ hrs/day) for compact, upright habit
• Soil: Well-drained loam, sandy loam or improved clay; thrives on lime/alkaline soils
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 2–3 weeks in summer (weekly in heatwaves); seldom in winter if dry
• Maintenance: Clip 2–3×/year to keep a slim profile (after spring flush and mid-late summer); structural prune late winter to open the column; feed in early spring
• Lifespan: 50-100+ years
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate & Mediterranean SA, including coastal Adelaide
• Soil pH: Acid, Neutral, Alkaline (best Neutral → mildly Alkaline)

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Slim screen or driveway avenue in Adelaide where width is limited—formal, architectural lines without mess
• Poolside/paving-friendly feature—Mediterranean look with minimal fruit near hard surfaces
• Large pots or courtyard punctuation—clip to columns/cones for year-round structure

Why You Will Love It

‘Tolley’s Upright’ gives you the look of olives in a narrow footprint, thriving in South Australia’s sun, heat and coastal air. It stays tidy, needs little water once established, and delivers an elegant, low-mess evergreen screen that makes Adelaide gardens feel polished and intentional.