With the popularity of ornamental olive trees growing world-wide, local landscapers may have doubts about Thailand’s climate suitability for olive tree cultivation.

The Question That Determines Your Local Landscaping Destiny:

Can Olive Trees Grow In Thailand?

They’re an indispensable garnish for a sweeping slice of the international food scene, found on pizza, hors d'oeuvre and canapes; in Martinis, pasta sauce and savory tapenade – not to mention Greek salads and tooth-picked onto a club sandwich.

Of course now you’re hungry, you feel like having a drink… and you’ve likely figured out we’re talking about that legendary and much-beloved ancient fruit: The olive.

But while you’re chomping that pizza and sipping your Martini, did you ever give any thought to the tree that grows those olives? The ones that provide this much-loved fruit and oil extract? Olive trees have played a crucial economic and power-playing role in countless Mediterranean-region civilizations throughout history, and their contribution to the realm of food cannot be understated.

Darling of the Landscaping Scene

In more recent times the olive trees have enjoyed a “side” popularity as ornamental features for high-end landscaping. With their silvery-green leaves, luxuriantly breezy canopies, often surreal structural appearance and life-span measured in the hundreds of years, it’s easy to see why DIY and commercial landscapers are turning to olive trees as a stunningly beautiful, enduring and cost-effective choice.

Having this heritage and history growing in your home soil is a privilege that puts you in the life-cycle of this legendary tree. But for local would-be owners, it raises a need-to-know question:

Can olive trees grow in Thailand? Answer: Yes, but with the caveat that it depends on what region you intend to grow the tree.

Let’s have a closer look and the factors that make up the answer to this all-important question…

To Grow or Not to Grow: The Elements Ultimately Decide

One of the most effective tools in assessing whether growing your own olive tree in Thailand is a do-able plan is understanding the unique characteristics of the country’s climate.

Since Olive trees are classified as a sub-tropical evergreen, there’s already one point of similarity going in favor of the “can-do” camp, but there are also considerable differences.

That “sub-“ prefix means the Mediterranean is hot and dry, whereas tropical Thailand’s climate is notoriously wet and humid. Not exactly a perfect match but still well within a green-light for growing. 

'Four Seasons' Is a Really Nice Hotel, but Not Part of Thailand's Climate Description

Here’s an example of the climatic differences olive trees would face in the country’s Central region, where the capital is located. In Bangkok, there is no spring. The weather simply swings between hot, dry summers, drenching monsoons and a dry/cooler period that sometimes barely passes for a winter.

But what does this mean for the landscaping aspirations of the would-be olive tree owner in Thailand?

Growing Olive Trees in Thailand: Unavoidable (but not insurmountable) Challenges

Most online sources will tell you that olive trees like hot, dry summers and mild winters. The natural hot-take on this intel is that Thailand's high humidity might be a sticking (and sticky!) point to fulfilling your landscaping aspirations. Additionally, a must-have growing feature for olive trees is well-drained soil and moist, but not soggy or water-saturated roots.

This could be a problem in regions of the country known for chronic and widespread ground-water accumulation. But don’t give up hope just yet.
Here’s another entry on the list of concerns about growing olive trees in Thailand: the possible threat of local pests and diseases on an olive tree growing in a “foreign” land.

Plot Twist: Olive Trees Can Grow In Thailand Like A Boss

For the majority of olive tree fans in most parts of Thailand, there’s good news: Because they are highly adaptive to soil, climate and temperature conditions, olive trees can easily acclimate to Thailand’s  weather with proper care and knowledgeable advice.

So yes, Thailand’s gardens may indeed enjoy the aesthetic magic of olive trees as a strictly ornamental feature that brings a unique, rustic elegance to any living space.

Resilient and easy to care for, these gaze-grabbing landscaping (or “interior-scaping”) decorative trees cast their captivating mystique with silvery-green leaves and gnarled, twisted trunks.

New Horizons for Thailand’s Decorative Plant Fans

Olive trees represent a fresh and heritage-rich trend for Thailand’s luxury landscaping enthusiasts: This hardy subtropical evergreen with high adaptivity makes an attention-grabbing garden centerpiece with its naturally elegant, stately presence.

Imagine: having an actual, living example of the Mediterranean region’s natural heritage growing here in Southeast Asia… right in your own garden!

Limited Local Conditions for Fruiting

Although there are naturally non-fruiting olive tree varieties which are ideal for landscaping applications (no rotting wind-fall mess!), only Thailand’s cooler, higher-altitude regions are suitable for fruit-bearing, even with naturally crop-producing varieties.

So if harvesting a crop of tasty fruit is your Thailand olive tree owner’s end-game, carefully consider the intended geographic planting location in your plans. But if exotic names, surrealistically twisted trunks and wispy canopies are what get you excited about olive trees, rest assured they can live up to their reputation as masterpieces of nature growing right outside your living room window.

If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Adapt!

The key to the olive tree’s success as an ornamental tree that can grow and thrive in unfamiliar territory is its remarkable adaptivity: The olive tree just rides along with whatever nature throws its way… and survives. Changes in moisture access, soil pH or ambient temperature; pests & disease and harsh weather are just a few of the threats to which the olive tree has a particularly high tolerance.

Adaptive Steps Owners Can Take

By adapting the environment to its needs, an ancient olive can indeed enjoy a long and healthy life in Thailand, and a little effort to help it acclimate to local growing conditions is always a good idea.

You can ensure proper soil drainage by preparing the planting site with mulch or compost to keep the roots from getting swamped. Furthermore, smart watering routines, proper pruning and informed fertilizer use will also help give your olive tree a growing environment that allows the root system to develop according to its new underground home.

Sun exposure should be six to ten hours per day, which can easily be accommodated by choosing a planting spot reasonably spaced apart from structures or larger trees that can obstruct life-giving sunshine.

Bottom Line: The Olive Tree Dream Lives in Thailand

Okay, we admit that Thailand isn’t the olive tree’s first choice as a roots-in-the-ground transplanting destination. But this doesn’t mean discerning landscape enthusiasts in Thailand can’t nurture and enjoy the olive tree’s captivating charm.

All it takes is some preparation, dedication and care to create a home-away-from-home where the Oleo europaea can enhance the landscapes of other parts of the world like Thailand with its aesthetic mystique and Spartan warrior-like endurance.

Now that you’re confident that this time-defying Mediterranean evergreen-wonder can radiate its beauty and rustic elegance in your home garden, it just makes sense you’d want to see more, which you can in our online photo galleries.

But to experience and feel the Mediterranean vibe, come see the real thing… Visit us at the Century Olive Tree Nursery and Show Gardens in Bangkok. Take in the grandeur of the shimmering leaves as you wander through the displays of mature olive tree varieties displayed in actual home-landscape settings.

Let your imagination wander and you just might end up part of Thailand’s fast-growing decorative olive tree owners’ community.

Book a personal tour to get “growing” on your personal olive tree adventure! It’s quick and hassle-free on our official LINE account, or call +66 9896 82666, +66 9339 33666.