Black Olive Tree

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

30-35 Feet

Mature Spread

15-20 Feet

Growing Zones

4-11 patio / 9-11 outdoors

Black Olive Tree gives that sculptural, cloud-canopy look designers keep using in sun-filled interiors. This evergreen Bucida buceras, also called Shady Lady, black olive, and green cloud tree, has small glossy dark green leaves held in layered clusters along smooth, branching stems. Indoors, it can reach about 8 to 15 feet tall and 4 to 8 feet wide over time, while outdoor trees in warm climates (zone 9+) can grow much larger. We recommend it for plant owners who already understand watering and light changes, because this tree rewards steady care but may drop leaves when conditions shift.

Best Locations For Growing Black Olive Tree

Grow Black Olive Tree in a bright living room, entry, sunroom, office, or large bedroom where the canopy can spread without touching curtains, vents, or foot traffic. It is especially suited for tall ceilings, patio doors, and sunny windows that provide light across most of the foliage. Bucida buceras is generally considered pet friendly, but children and pets should not be allowed to chew the leaves or seed pods. It is a foliage tree and does not produce fruit.

Black Olive Tree Sunlight Requirements

Black Olive Tree needs very bright light indoors and performs best where direct sun touches the leaves for several hours each day. A south- or west-facing window is usually the best indoor placement, and a strong grow light can help during fall and winter. Low-light rooms are not a good fit, since shaded portions of the canopy often thin or drop leaves.

Black Olive Tree Care

Plant Black Olive Tree in a well-draining potting mix that can hold even moisture without staying soggy. Use a sturdy container with drainage holes, and check yearly to see whether roots have filled the pot. This tree may shed leaves after shipping, repotting, or moving to a new room, but flexible branches often leaf out again once light and watering are steady. Prune only dry, brittle tips or branches that have died back.

Watering Black Olive Tree

Water when the top of the soil feels dry, giving enough water to moisten the root ball evenly and allowing extra water to drain away. Black Olive Tree prefers moderate humidity and dislikes both dry soil and stale, overly damp air.

Feeding Black Olive Tree

Feed Black Olive Tree during spring and summer with a diluted liquid houseplant fertilizer or a slow-release formula mixed into the soil. Regular feeding supports denser foliage and steady canopy growth, especially when the plant is receiving strong light.

SKU:

IND-HOU-BLA-LGL