Description
Skylark is a compact, ornamental olive prized for silvery foliage, tidy growth, and minimal fruiting. It gives you the real olive-tree aesthetic in a smaller footprint and is commonly grown in containers or small gardens. Most years it sets little to no crop, but in mixed plantings it can occasionally produce a light set of olives.
This is the olive we reach for when the goal is simple: that timeless Mediterranean look without heavy fruit drop. Skylark stays naturally compact, responds well to pruning, and makes a beautiful patio tree, entryway anchor, or low-maintenance evergreen accent in a sunny spot.
That said, “low-fruiting” does not mean “never fruits.” In the real world—especially if you have other olives nearby—Skylark can produce a small crop, and we’ve seen it happen. Think of it as an olive that is chosen for form and cleanliness first, with the occasional bonus of fruit rather than a guaranteed harvest.
Overview
- Compact dwarf olive selected for ornamental use and minimal fruiting
- Great container and small-garden variety
- Silvery foliage and classic olive-tree structure
- Can set a light crop in some years, especially near fruiting olives
- Best performance comes from sun, drainage, and restrained watering
Growing Details
Latin Name: Olea europaea ‘Skylark’
Origin: Cultivar selection (commonly sold as “Skylark Dwarf” / low-fruiting olive)
Site and Soil: Full sun preferred; well-drained soil is essential
Cold Tolerance: Established trees have reported wood survival around ~15°F
Rootstock: Own-root (propagated from cuttings)
Bearing Age: May produce in its first season under favorable conditions; fruiting is typically light and variable
Size at Maturity: Typically maintained at 6–10 ft tall and wide with pruning
Note: Size reflects managed garden or container-grown trees; growth varies by climate and whether planted in-ground or in containers. Unpruned trees can grow larger over time
Bloom Time: Mid to late spring (varies by region)
Ripening Time: If fruit sets, it ripens mid-season (timing varies by climate and season length)
Pollination: Low-fruiting selection; may set more fruit when planted near fruiting olive varieties within 20–30 feet
Pests & Diseases: Generally resilient with good airflow and drainage; avoid waterlogged conditions
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: Skylark is widely sold as a low-fruiting olive, and there’s a horticultural reason behind it—some sources describe abnormal flower structures that reduce fruit set. In practice, that means less mess most years, not a promise of zero fruit.
- Regional Insight: A strong choice for containers and small spaces across warm-summer regions. In cooler or wetter climates, sun exposure and drainage are the difference between survival and thriving.
- Young trees may defoliate when temperatures dip into the low 20s. Don’t give up on them—many will push new growth again as conditions warm.
- Explore more olives in our collection: Olive Trees
