“An uncultivated allure, is not just a testament of resilience, it's a symphony of gnarled branches and silver-green leaves. In its wild beauty, it tells stories of the earth, whispers secrets of time, and brings design to life.”

SYLVESTRIS: Uncultivated Allure

The olive tree’s “wild child” cousin is a real beauty and won’t back down from a fight against the elements.

In the context of people, devoting most of one’s resources to aesthetics while neglecting parental duties is usually frowned upon.

Indeed, society looks down on the a father who splurges on hair products and fancy cars or the makeup-obsessed mom with a closet full of designer shoes who prefers to leave the kids with a babysitter and bask in the spotlight, flaunting their good looks.

WILD & GOOD LOOKING, TOO

But if you’re a wild olive tree variety known for stunning beauty and naturally-evolved resiliency called Sylvestris, being a “fashion-passion” playboy/diva is exactly what everyone loves about you.

This is why the Sylvestris is an excellent ornamental garden tree, and part of what makes it so is the fundamental difference between “wild” and cultivate olive tree varieties.

BIOLOGICALLY CAPTIVATING BEAUTY 

Wild olive trees are more concerned with how they look, and are not so enthusiastic about producing fruit.

Left to itself to grow and evolve without being subjected to selective breeding (that is, a cultivar), wild olive trees focus their energy resources on visually appealing features and qualities of resilience rather than providing food for humans.

Because it growth-prioritizes structural elements like the trunk, roots, leaves and branches, the Sylvestris is biologically programmed to exude supreme beauty and rustic elegance.

Growing to a height of 20 to 25 feet, and in rare cases up to 30 feet, the Sylvestris boasts a dense canopy and symmetrically-curved crown, making it ideal as a view-blind or border marker.

FANTASY STORY-LIKE LIFESPAN

Like most olive tree varieties, its lifespan is measured in centuries, with trees up to 1,000 years old not uncommon. We currently have Sylvestris trees in stock that are between 200 and 300 years old.

SURREAL APPEAL, AESTHETIC CHARM

One of the tree’s most striking features is the twisted trunk that becomes more “stylishly deformed” with age. 

Another element of the tree’s overall visual presence are its distinctive leaves, designated as “lanceolate”, or having a shape similar to a lance (medieval battle pole).

The 1 to 1½-inch leaves have a leathery texture, gracefully tapering at each end. While the top is dark green in color, the leaf’s underside is a noticeably lighter shade, creating a pleasant “flickering” effect when breezes pass through. 

Interestingly, this two-toned leaf-color motif of the wild Sylvestris is shared by its

high-class cultivated cousin, the Hojiblanca.

A LIVING, GROWING ARTWORK 

Owing to its slow growth and uncommon beauty, the Sylvestris is suitable for artistic purposes like topiary and bonsai.

SUPERHERO-LEVEL SURVIVABILITY 

Now that you’ve flirted with the Sylvestris olive tree’s visual charms, here might be a good place to mention that this ancient beauty can stand up to all kinds of adverse growing conditions.

Besides having the ability to grow in a wide variety of soil types, this wild strain of Oleo europea (its official Latin designation) is highly tolerant to drought conditions. The tree is also moderately resistant to several common olive tree diseases.

In terms of temperature adaptability, the wild Sylvestris says no problem to sustained temps of up to 40ºC/104ºF, or intermittent frosts down to -12ºC/10ºF.

This robust temperature-survivability means this wild olive tree can be successfully grown in most parts of Thailand, particularly the country’s drier regions.

GOLD-STANDARD OF ORNAMENTAL LANDSCAPING 

After having read this article you now know that despite its lack of cultivation “pedigree”, the wild Sylvestris olive tree is a fan-favorite and smart choice for anyone with an appreciation for luxury outdoor “living decor”. 

In the Century Olive Tree Nursery, the Sylvesteris stands as an

ageless symbol of serenity and strength. It's not just a tree,

but a time-sculpted testament to design found only

in the rhythm of nature's pulse.

As a true survivor and a prized ancient ornamental , some might argue that the Farga olive tree is best used as a sole focal point of a larger landscaping layout. And that’s a valid point: Fargas grow in solitude as well as the do in arbors or groves. But the fact is that Farga likes to “dress up” in the finery of complementary ground-plant foliage. This means that it’s also perfectly happy in more intimate landscape-design settings paired with silvery flora that emphasizes and enhances the tree’s natural beauty.

Now that your curiosity about the Farga’s aesthetic versatility and horticultural compatibility has been aroused, you can browse photos of your favorite ancient olive tree and other rare ornamentals at our online gallery: Century Olive Tree.

But to make that leap from pixel gazing to in-real-life, we suggest a visit to the Century Olive Tree nursery & show-gardens. Explore the landscaping displays including Farga and other popular varieties in actual garden settings designed to inspire your home landscaping dreams. And we’re happy to answer your questions.

Book your personal Century Olive Tree tour today! It’s fast and convenient on our official LINE account or call +66 989 682 666, +66 933 933 666.