Arbequina Olive Tree

Arbequina Olive Tree (Olea europaea ‘Arbequina’) is the most popular olive variety grown in California’s commercial olive industry — and for good reason. The small, firm, black olives from Catalonia, Spain produce a smooth, buttery, slightly nutty extra virgin olive oil that chefs and home cooks consistently prefer for its mild, approachable character. Pressing your own small-batch olive oil from homegrown fruit is genuinely possible with Arbequina, and the tree makes it accessible to home growers in any climate: self-pollinating, productive in 2–3 years, compact enough for a container, and hardy enough to bring indoors through winter in colder climates. The willowy gray-green foliage is beautiful year-round. Outdoor planting in Zones 7–9, container growing anywhere.

The California Commercial Standard — Now for Home Growers

Arbequina’s dominance in California’s olive industry reflects consistent, reliable production of high-quality fruit from a compact, manageable tree. The same qualities that make it the industry’s preferred variety make it exceptional for home growing: early and abundant production, small fruit that’s easy to harvest from a compact tree, and oil with the smooth, buttery character that makes Arbequina oil so widely appreciated. Harvest begins in late November when the olives transition from green to black.

Press Your Own Olive Oil — Or Cure for the Table

The small black Arbequina olives have two equally rewarding uses. Pressed into extra virgin olive oil, they produce a mild, buttery oil with a slightly nutty finish — rich in monounsaturated fats and Vitamin E — that’s outstanding for finishing dishes, dressings, and any application where olive oil flavor is the feature. Cured for table eating, they deliver the mild, fruity character that makes Arbequina a favorite among chefs and home cooks who prefer a more delicate olive.

Container Growing — Mediterranean Flavor Anywhere

Grown in the ground in Zones 7–9, Arbequina reaches 8–10 feet. In a container, the size is managed by pot size, making it practical for patios, sunrooms, and indoor spaces in any climate. Move it outdoors through the warm season and indoors before frost — the tree adapts well to container culture and can live for decades in a large pot with proper care.

Why Growers Choose Arbequina Olive Tree

• The most popular California commercial olive variety — proven quality for oil and table eating
• Smooth buttery slightly nutty extra virgin olive oil — press your own small-batch harvest
• Container-friendly — grow Mediterranean olives anywhere with winter indoor protection
• Self-pollinating — productive with just one tree
• Bears in 2–3 years — quick first harvest from a compact, long-lived tree
• Beautiful gray-green willowy foliage — ornamental year-round indoors or out