During the first few years of its life, an olive tree will grow rather quickly, but growth slows thereafter. If your main interest in growing olives is to harvest the fruit, you can speed the growth somewhat by carefully pruning the tree during its first five years, to create a strong, straight central trunk.

How quickly do olive trees grow?

Olives flower in early spring. Trees take three to five years of growth until they produce their first harvest and most only become fully productive after eight or nine years.

How much do olive trees grow in a year?

Growing at less than 12 inches per year, the olive tree is found most abundantly in Mediterranean climates and in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 9 through 11. In the United States, it's abundant in California and Arizona.