Olea europaea 'Leccino' (Olive)

Olea europaea 'Leccino' is one of the great olives of Tuscany and one of the most widely planted cultivars in the world, thanks to its remarkable adaptability to different climates and soils.

It forms a large, vigorous tree with a broad, rounded crown and short, drooping fruiting shoots, which also make it a fine ornamental. It resists low temperatures well and tolerates olive knot, peacock spot and the olive moth, though it is sensitive to the olive fly; it has also shown tolerance to Xylella fastidiosa. The medium-sized fruit gives a mild, rounded oil, fresher and fruitier when picked early.

• Classic Tuscan cultivar, planted worldwide
• Good resistance to cold; tolerant of olive knot and peacock spot
• Mild, rounded oil
• Broad, rounded crown with drooping fruiting shoots

Grow in full sun and free-draining soil, avoiding ground that stays wet in winter. Established plants are drought tolerant, while trees in pots want regular summer water and a spring feed. Prune in late winter to keep the canopy open. It copes with frost better than most olives, but it is self-sterile: plant a pollinator such as Pendolino, Maurino or Frantoio nearby for a good crop.

IMPORTANT: The pictures show the mother plant, which is not for sale. The offer includes a plant with the dimensions stated in the description.