Wholesale deciduous

Koroneiki olive

Olea europaea ‘Koroneiki’

A productive Greek oil olive known for small fruit, excellent oil quality, heat tolerance, and strong fit in dry climates.

Edible after curingOil oliveHeat tolerantEvergreen

Program price · potted plant$21Potted nursery plant

Choose a size

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Landscape layersLower canopy

Mature size

Usually 12–20 ft; maintain smaller with pruning

Climate fit

Urban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b · Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b

Special categories

EDIBLE

Hardiness guidance

Varies by species and cultivar; match both winter lows and local chill accumulation

Winter chill

Low to moderate

Typical harvest

Fall into early winter

Before you plant

These conditions determine whether it will thrive.

Cold hardiness

Cover while young

One of the most cold-sensitive olives. UC saw freeze damage on Koroneiki at 23°F, so protect young trees on hard-freeze nights. Green fruit is hurt near 28°F.

Leaves and wood: damaged below 23°F · Blossoms and fruit: below 28°F

Heat tolerance

Takes full sun and heat

A Greek oil olive. Heat and full west sun suit it. Paint young trunks white.

Sources:

davewilson.com , class.ucanr.edu , distantreader.org

Right plant, right place

Will Koroneiki olive grow at your Arizona property?

The low desert usually supplies roughly 300–400 chill hours, and in a warm winter less. Choose varieties needing 300 hours or fewer there; colder Arizona elevations can support higher-chill choices.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b.

Light

Sun exposure

Full sun with strong air circulation; protect young bark from western sun

Water

Irrigation

Deep irrigation through the root zone; frequency rises during establishment and fruit swell

Fruit set

Pollination

Self-fruitful; cross-pollination may improve yield

Harvest

How to use it

Primarily oil; fruit requires curing before table use

Planting & stewardship

How to help Koroneiki olive thrive

1
Choose a rootstock suited to the site’s soil, drainage, salinity, desired size, and pest pressures.
2
Plant bare-root trees while dormant, keeping the graft union above finished grade.
3
Thin developing fruit early enough to improve size and reduce limb breakage.
4
Use dormant and summer pruning intentionally to balance shade, access, vigor, and next year’s fruiting wood.

Read the horticultural reference ↗