Molteno shines not just as a town, but as a testament to resilience, a beacon of hope, and a symbol of the unyielding spirit of humanity.

MOLTENO 

South Africa’s Iconic “Arnold Schwarzenegger”

of Ornamental Olive Trees

It would be difficult to find anyone today who is old enough to drive and does not know the name Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

Whether its a young-ish action movie fan, middle-aged U.S. political observer or any-aged bio-documentary TV show viewer, almost everyone has heard that multi-syllabic mouthful of a surname through the media or loyal fandom. The fact is that just about every person you know is familiar with the bigger-than-life celebrity and his incredible story of an immigrant muscle-pumper from Austria who gained unimaginable success, fame and the demographic-crossing admiration of his adopted country.

A Foreigner Shows Americans Their Own “Dream”

Arnold first came to the U.S. as a top-tier competitive body-builder in the late 1960’s, later reinvented himself as a household-name action (and comedy!) movie star, and ultimately became bona-fide member of the Hollywood elite. But his most noteworthy success was winning the elected Governorship of California. This bulging-bicep’d action hero was now the top elected official of a US state whose economy ranks in the world top-10 alongside those of entire nations!

Now a grandfather in his 70’s, Arnold continues to speak fluent English in his signature and much-imitated thick Austrian accent. In fact, his name is often good-naturedly pronounced ‘AH-nowld’ by comics and nightclub impressionists, a beloved pop-culture reference which the man himself takes in stride.

A Popular Outsider Becomes an Icon

The point is, the vast majority of his American admirers know Arnold is a non-US born immigrant and naturalized US citizen, and no one cares. 

His millions of fans and even former political foes cannot deny that Schwarzenegger has reached cultural phenomenon-status, and has blossomed into becoming an American institution who US movie fans and voters have accepted as one of their own.

Landscaping olive trees… Muscle-y Film Star … What’s The Connection?

There isn’t one. (Did you think this is a movie script? Where you hoping to see Arnold cast as a forestry service commando assigned to rescue a kidnapped olive tree? It’s not, and that’s a ridiculous idea for a movie), but… 

…there are some striking metaphorical similarities in the backstories of the popular, German-sounding American mega-celeb, and the Mediterranean-descended South African olive tree which really is the topic of this article.

Arnold… Molteno olive tree… A Fair Comparison

Just as Arnold Schwarzenegger has come to symbolize an immigrant’s against-the-odds achievement and success in their adopted homeland, so too is the story of South Africa’s Molteno olive tree one of an intercontinental journey and a proudly-accepted foreign heritage.  

Molteno’s European Ancestral Provenance 

Although it shares its Mediterranean origins with legendary Olea europaea cousins like Hojiblanca and Arbesquina, the Molteno olive tree has a unique characteristic that sets it apart: A geographic event in its cultivation history that literally spanned oceans, seas and even continents.

Before its present-day name was established, Molteno olive trees were brought from their Spanish homeland to South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province in the late 1800s.

The region which became most associated with the tree’s cultivation became its namesake, which itself is derived of western European roots. And so this olive tree from abroad which was now thriving at the southernmost tip of the African continent was given the very Italian-sounding name: Molteno.

Arrived, Adapted and Thrived 

Over the years, this foreign-origin tree with an “exotic” name (looking at you, Arnold) has become a common fixture of South the African landscape, and an enduring backbone of the regional economy through trade in its fruit. 

Brined Molteno drupes (table olives) and the oil extracted from them are prized for their subtle flavor, and demand for them from consumer and culinary sectors have made Molteno farming a lucrative industry for South African growers.

Molteno is More Than Just a Crop Tree

Journeying back to Hollywood for a moment, consider the evolution of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s remarkable career: From playing a sword-wielding warrior in a leather swimsuit flexing his well-oiled biceps on film as Conan the Barbarian, to donning a suit-and-tie and flexing political power from the California governor’s mansion. Truly an impressive span of job descriptions. 

And now it’s the Molteno’s turn to enjoy a rewarding career shift. After decades as reliable and popular source of a high-value edible commodity, this “immigrant” olive tree cultivar has taken an artistic role that showcases an entirely different dimension.

The Molteno has gone ornamental.

Luxury Landscaping Will Never Be the Same 

Just like the famous physique-geek/actor/politician mentioned earlier, this much-loved South African olive tree has taken on a flashy new gig: A rising star in the world of luxury home-landscaping.

While Mr. Schwarzenegger stands an impressive 6 feet, 2 inches/190 cm tall, a medium-sized Molteno olive tree typically reaches 15 – 20 feet in height. This means that if the Terminator star were standing next to a matured Molteno, he would be able to enjoy the sun-dappled shade of the tree’s broad, wispy canopy just like the rest of we no-amazing-immigration-story-non-celebrity tree lovers. Imagine that! 

Looking closer, the elegantly rounded leaves keep their sheen year-round in warmer climates, while viewed from afar, the silvery-green foliage provides a soothing visual presence for any outdoor living space. And with a lifespan of up to one-hundred years or more, planting a Molteno is a generational landscaping initiative that will share its aesthetic charm and elegance for decades to come.

Staple Food Source and a Feast for the Eyes

As a long-time elder statesman of South African agriculture, the Molteno will always be a prized crop tree. But to the discerning home-landscapist, this stunningly beautiful Mediterranean evergreen is a luxury landscaper’s dream-come-true: 

Plus, they’re extremely resilient to natural threats and are easy to care for once matured. What more could you ask for in a lifestyle-enhancing ornamental?

Unearth the timeless beauty of Molteno with Century Olive Tree. Our landscaping designs are not just creations, they are a tribute to the enduring spirit of nature.

Now that you know the fascinating origin story of the iconic Molteno and its side-gig as a breathtakingly gorgeous high-end ornamental olive tree, you’ll probably want to go back and re-watch some of those classic Arnold Schwarzenegger movies. 

But if you recognize the Molteno as an ornamental olive tree of uncommon beauty and intriguing history, you’ll very likely want to click-into our online gallery, where you’ll find glam-shots of our imported Moltenos along with other rare and exotic ornamental olive trees. 

Then again, why settle for viewing these masterpieces of nature through the pixels of a computer screen? Maybe it’s time to get off the computer and out into the fresh air with a visit to Century Olive Tree nursery and show-gardens, where you can see these mesmerizingly beautiful trees in real-life settings. 

Stroll through our curation of actual planting displays highlighting popular olive tree varieties that are designed to inspire your creativity and help fulfil your landscaping aspirations.

Book a personal Century Olive Tree tour today! It’s fast and convenient on our official LINE account, or call +66 9896 82666, +66 9339 33666.

(Arnold, if you’re reading this, call me and let’s discuss that olive tree rescue story idea. I’ll even cut you in on some of the ticket sales!)