The olive tree processes an uncommon beauty and elegance that make your heart race, and prices that could break your heart. Far from a scheme born of greed, it is their distant origins and epic logistical challenges that make this evergreen wonder so dear.

Question on Everyone’s Mind:

Why Are Olive Trees So Expensive?

Olive Trees in recent years have gained a worldwide following as premium ornamental features prized by home landscapers and commercial designers alike.

Here in Thailand, the luxury landscaping community has fully embraced the olive tree as a high-prestige, low-maintenance and beautiful garden highlight.

But along with their stunning enchantingly flickering leaves; gnarled, time-sculpted trunks, potential for fruit production and longevity.

There is another “quality” of exotic olive trees for sale in Thailand that isn’t as visible:

These rustic beauties don’t come cheap, with prices that might seem exorbitant if you don’t know the facts.

Already Highly-Valued Tree Its Native Lands

Much of the Olea europaea’s value is in the tree and its Mediterranean origins.

The olive tree’s century-spanning longevity and premium crops gives them an heirloom quality that boosts their value as it would with any other item or commodity. Along with the strong emotional bonds this creates, it makes olive trees a solid and reliable long-term investment that will continue to provide value for the next generation.

Trees That Grow The “Golden” Drupes

Of course the ages-long treasure of the olive tree are the ripened drupes (raw olives) it produces, which are brined and consumed as table olives, or pressed for their fragrant and silky-smooth oil used in cooking.

Both olives and olive oil have been indispensable to the culinary world for generations. But their modern role in everyday-to-fine cuisine in dishes like pizza and tapenade is a crowning achievement in the olive’s long history as a foodie-superstar.

In addition to premium fruit, their regenerative roots make them a premium tree species, adding yet more to their  value.

Source of Medicine and High-Nutrition

Medically speaking – olive leaves, bark and oil essence have medicinal qualities that are effective in treating common ailments such as inflammation. Although these olive-derived concoctions were popular in times past, they are still used in traditional treatments.  

Regarding nutritional value, olive oil has been proven to be a powerful anti-oxidant and part of the health-promoting ‘Mediterranean diet’.

They Didn’t Just Swim To Thailand

So far, we’ve only discussed the intrinsic value to olive trees in the native lands as a conventional agricultural commodity. But the logistics and quality-control of getting the trees to Thailand adds a hefty sum to the full cost.

Shipping for larger trees is done by sea, secured in specially designed support frames to keep them safe. Smaller trees are shipped by air as they are more delicate than mature trees, but cargo costs for living plants is eye-wateringly pricey.

Complex Formalities Greet Imported Trees

Once the trees arrive at Thai ports, they are carefully inspected by Customs and Forestry Department officials to ensure the they are free from any foreign bio-hazards that can harm Thailand’s ecosystem.

From Nursery to Your Home: Book a Taxi?

At around 2,500 kg, a mature ancient olive tree requires specialist transport service using heavy-duty crane-trucks similar to those used in construction. But the awkward shape and uneven load of the olive tree means our crane operators must have skills beyond those of ordinary construction operators.

A New Perspective

Now that you understand the considerable expense that goes into selling olive trees in Thailand, their hefty price tag better reflects the effort and financial outlay needed to get that leafy Mediterranean beauty growing in your home soil.

Given their long lifespan, easy-care and potential for a valuable harvest, suddenly olive trees seem like a pretty good value for money.

Experience the Timeless Aesthetic Energy

You can’t feel the inspiration to own an olive tree without seeing one up-close and in-person… and we can make it happen!

Visit us at Century Olive Tree Nursery and Show Gardens, and let us show you what the fast-growing ornamental olive tree community in Thailand is so excited about.

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