The Mission Olive is a classic American heirloom variety, valued for its dual-purpose fruit that is excellent both for curing as table olives and for producing robust, flavorful oil. This hardy, self-fertile tree is drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and adapts well to container growing, making it a versatile choice for California landscapes.

• Produces small, symmetrical, round fruit that matures to a deep brown-black color.

• Fruit has a high oil content and a rich, distinctive flavor, making it a top choice for both oil and curing.

• A self-fruitful, slow-growing evergreen tree or large shrub with a rounded, multi-branched canopy and attractive silvery-gray foliage.

• Fruit can be brine-cured when green for a fresh, snappy olive, or oil-cured when black for a milder, wrinkled table olive.

• Extremely drought-tolerant and sun-loving once established, requiring minimal water.

• Well-suited to container culture, which naturally restricts its size for patios and small gardens.

Flavor Profile:

• Flavor (Cured): Rich, complex, and fruity with a firm texture. Green-cured are tangy and bright; black oil-cured are mild and meaty.

• Oil (if pressed): Peppery, robust, and full-bodied with grassy notes.

• Best Uses: The classic all-purpose olive. Perfect for home-curing as table olives. Also produces a flavorful, aromatic oil.