How-to Guide
How to Grow an Olive Tree in a Container
The short answer
Olives grow well in containers in mild climates. Use a gritty, free-draining mix (potting compost blended with horticultural grit or sand) in a pot with good drainage holes, and place it in the sunniest spot you have — olives want full sun. Clay or wood pots are better than plastic, which holds too much water.
Prune in early spring to shape the tree and remove dead or damaged branches; to keep a potted olive compact, tip-prune the main branches back to a good replacement shoot each year. Many olives are hardy, but severe frost can damage branches, so move pots to a frost-free place or wrap the branches with horticultural fleece over winter.
Pot, soil, and light
- Free-draining, gritty compost with grit or sand in a well-drained pot.
- Full sun — the sunniest spot available.
- Choose clay or wood over water-retentive plastic.
Pruning and winter care
Prune in early spring to keep an attractive shape and remove dead, diseased, or dying branches. To restrict size, tip-prune the main branches back to a good replacement shoot each year. Over winter, move the pot to a frost-free place or cover the branches with horticultural fleece to guard against severe frost.
Sources
Reviewed 2026-07-18. We cite university Extension, government, and established horticultural sources — and never invent pesticide rates or dangerous treatments.
- Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — How to grow olives — Grow potted olives in free-draining gritty mix in a sunny spot; prune early spring; tip-prune to restrict size; protect from severe frost with fleece or a frost-free store
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