‘Swan Hill’… a new ornamental fruitless olive for California

The olive tree (Olea europaea L.) has very desirable characteristics for use as an ornamental. It has attractive, gray-green foliage, and develops a picturesque, gnarled trunk and branch system as the tree grows older. It is an evergreen with a willowy-type of shoot growth which makes a very pleasing appearance. The great disadvantage of the olive as a street, lawn, or patio tree is the production of fruits which drop over a long period of time during the winter and early spring months. These, of course, become a great nuisance, discoloring concrete walks, adhering to pedestrians' shoes, and attracting birds which consume some of the olives and further contribute to the litter.