{"id":530,"date":"2011-04-25T22:27:36","date_gmt":"2011-04-26T05:27:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/olivetrees.ca\/?page_id=530"},"modified":"2025-08-11T15:20:22","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T22:20:22","slug":"cultivar-descriptions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/olivetrees.ca\/?page_id=530","title":{"rendered":"Cultivar Descriptions"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Bella di Cerignola<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Origin: <\/b>Puglia, Italy<\/span><\/p>\n

Growth habit: <\/b>Medium vigor, prefers fertile soils. Reaches medium height with dense crown and slight weeping branches.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cold hardiness:<\/b> Reputedly less hardy than the rest of our offerings but\u00a0trees in pots here at the nursery show hardiness comparable to most other cultivars.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fruit: <\/b>Cerignola olives are primarily picked green for table use but they also yield a nice olive oil. Flesh to pit ratio is very high sometimes as much as 75%. Fruit matures early to mid-season (late October to mid-November).<\/span><\/p>\n

Pollinator(s): <\/b>Frantoio, Itrana, Leccino, Maurino, Pendolino<\/span><\/p>\n

Bountiful<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Origin:<\/b> Nikita Botanical Garden, Yalta Ukraine<\/span><\/p>\n

Cold hardiness:<\/b> Good winter cold hardiness\u00a0for our zone 8 coastal winters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Characteristics:<\/b> \u00a0early to mid-fall ripening<\/span><\/p>\n

Fruit:\u00a0<\/b>large olives for table use<\/span><\/p>\n

Pollinator(s):<\/b>\u00a0most varieties<\/span><\/p>\n

Cailletier\/Taggiasca (SP*)<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Origin<\/b>: Alpes-Maritimes area near\u00a0Nice, France and Liguria, Italy<\/span><\/p>\n

Growth habit<\/b>: very similar to a Frantoio in appearance when young, matures to a statuesque tree with \u00a0a downward drooping branches<\/span><\/p>\n

Cold hardiness<\/b>: good cold resistance<\/span><\/p>\n

Fruit<\/b>:\u00a0dual purpose olive that makes an excellent delicate oil. In France where it is called Cailletier it is mainly renowned for its delicious\u00a0small black Nicoise table olives. Later ripening for black olives. In Liguria, it is highly prized for its delicately flavoured oil. <\/span><\/p>\n

Pollinator<\/b>: self-fertile but better fruit set with pollinator such as Pendolino, Maurino, Leccino, Bouteillan, Cipressino. It is closely related to Frantoio so the two cultivars may not be compatible for pollination. <\/span><\/p>\n

Carolea<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Origin<\/b>:\u00a0<\/span>Calabria, Italy<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Growth habit<\/b>:<\/span>\u00a0medium vigor; erect growth habit with medium density canopy<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Cold hardiness<\/b>:\u00a0<\/span>good cold tolerance (but possibly susceptible to wind damage).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Characteristics<\/b>:\u00a0<\/span>early to mid-season ripening, vigorous grower<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Fruit<\/b>:\u00a0<\/span>medium to large olives suitable for table use or olive oil, yields a high quality fruity olive oil<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Pollinator(s)<\/b>:<\/span>\u00a0Itrana, Frantoio, Leccino<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Cipressino (aka Frangivento)<\/span><\/h2>\n
Origin<\/span><\/strong>:<\/strong> Puglia<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Growth habit<\/span><\/strong>:<\/strong> grows upright in a columnar shape (columnar cypress-like, its other name, Frangivento, means windbreak) with a dense canopy. Often used in Italy as a landscape tree along roads and walkways.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Hardiness<\/span><\/strong>:<\/strong> Good cold hardiness and resistance to wind and ocean spray.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Fruit<\/span><\/strong>:<\/strong> medium-sized fruit ripens mid-season (after Leccino, before Frantoio).<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Pollinators<\/span>: Carolea, Frantoio, Leccino, Maurino. Pendolino, etc.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

Frantoi<\/span>o<\/span>(SP*)<\/span><\/h2>\n

Origin:<\/strong>\u00a0Tuscany, Italy<\/span><\/p>\n

Growth habit:\u00a0<\/strong>Medium-vigour; grows upright, with open structure and eventually, a wide spreading canopy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cold hardiness:\u00a0<\/strong>Often\u00a0cited as\u00a0medium hardy but here in British Columbia’s Gulf islands we have found it to be very hardy. It is at least as hardy as Leccino (and more hardy in some cases).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Characteristics:\u00a0<\/strong>Fruit matures late and unevenly relative to the Leccino, yet it reaches its maximum oil yield early in the season (this is one reason why it can be picked at the same time as Leccino in areas such as Umbria and Tuscany). In British Columbia, picking Frantoio green may be the best strategy for a dependable harvest.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fruit:\u00a0<\/strong>Frantoio oil is fruity with a pungent finish. Its medium-sized clingstone fruit can be picked green or ripe for table use. Brined Frantoio olives have a nutty flavour.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pollination compatibility:\u00a0<\/strong>Self-fertile, but another variety as a pollinator will enhance fruit-set and maximize yield. It will act as a pollinator for Leccino making it the perfect companion to Leccino if you only want two trees.<\/span><\/p>\n

Harvest Joy<\/span><\/h2>\n

Origin:<\/strong> Nikita Botanical Garden, Yalta Ukraine<\/span><\/p>\n

Cold hardiness:\u00a0<\/strong>Good winter cold hardiness\u00a0for our zone 8 coastal winters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Characteristics:<\/strong>\u00a0 mid-fall ripening<\/span><\/p>\n

Fruit: <\/strong>when mature\u00a0known for abundant harvest of mid-size to large olives\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pollinator(s):<\/strong>\u00a0most varieties<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Itrana<\/span><\/h2>\n

Origin: <\/strong>Lazio,\u00a0Italy<\/span><\/p>\n

Growth habit: <\/strong>vigorous growth habit and upright structure\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cold hardiness: <\/strong>\u00a0has\u00a0excellent\u00a0winter cold hardiness when planted in the ground (potted trees seem slightly more sensitive to cold) for our zone 8 coastal winters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Characteristics: <\/strong>very productive\u00a0dual-purpose late ripening cultivar prized for both its oil and table olives (green or black). Nice upright structure and abundant, orderly branching.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fruit: <\/strong>medium-sized round, as a table olive Itrana is known as Gaeta. Ripens late season (late November to\u00a0December).<\/span><\/p>\n

Pollinators: <\/strong>Leccino, Maurino, Pendolino, Frantoio<\/span><\/p>\n

Leccino<\/span><\/h2>\n

Origin: <\/strong>Tuscany, Italy<\/span><\/p>\n

Growth habit: <\/strong>Erect \u00a0in stature, cold resistant and more vigorous than either Frantoio or Maurino\u2014meaning it grows slightly more quickly (and seems to be the last to go dormant in winter).<\/span><\/p>\n

Cold hardiness: <\/strong>Considered to be one of the most cold-hardy cultivars although when young (1-3 years) it may be a little more sensitive to cold than Frantoio (possibly due to its tendency to keep growing into the winter).<\/span><\/p>\n

Characteristics: <\/strong>Leccino olives ripen evenly and early in November. Like our other varietal offerings, the Leccino is suitable either for pressing for oil or for brining for (medium-sized) table olives\u2014makes a wonderful eating olive: see Zingerman’s online deli for a rave review<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fruit: <\/strong>medium freestone fruit (2-2.5g) with medium-to-high oil content. The mildly fruity and delicate oil of the Leccino olive forms the basis for many Tuscan and Umbrian olive oil blends, at times accounting for over 50% of the blend. Its rich yet mild flavour softens the pungency of the Frantoio\u2019s oil.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pollination compatibility<\/strong>: Self-sterile, so it needs a pollinator such as Frantoio, Maurino or Pendolino. In turn it is compatible with many other cultivars.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maurino<\/span><\/h2>\n

Origin: <\/strong>Tuscany, Italy<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Growth habit: <\/strong>Compact, slightly bushy growth habit. Medium vigour in growth (slow growing in our climate).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cold hardiness: <\/strong>Well-suited for cool coastal summers, good winter cold-hardiness in our zone 8 coastal winters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Characteristics: <\/strong>A reliable pollinator because of its profuse flowering and long bloom time even in cool conditions.\u00a0Fruit maturation is usually before Frantoio but after Leccino. Our experience with Maurino in BC is that it grows well and seems to have no problem setting fruit that ripens to a size slightly smaller than Leccino and Frantoio but with a nice flesh to pit ratio (suitable for table olives).<\/span><\/p>\n

Fruit: <\/strong>Medium oil yield; produces a highly regarded, delicate, not overly fruity oil.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pollination compatibility<\/strong>: Self-sterile,\u00a0highly compatible as a pollinator to a wide range of olive varieties including Leccino, Frantoio and Pendolino.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pendolino<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Origin:\u00a0<\/b>Tuscany, Italy<\/span><\/p>\n

Growth habit:\u00a0<\/b>Pendulous aspect to limbs (hence the name) but classic olive tree shape in branch structure. Pendolino trees can develop into beautiful semi-pendulous trees (but may take their time doing so).<\/span><\/p>\n

Cold hardiness:\u00a0<\/b>Good winter cold hardiness\u00a0for our zone 8 coastal winters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Characteristics:\u00a0<\/b>A\u00a0universal pollinator for most olive varieties.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fruit:\u00a0<\/b>Ripens evenly in midseason, normally about the same time as Leccino and before Frantoio. Fruit can be brined for delicious green or black brined olives.When harvested for oil, it has medium oil yield and produces a delicate oil.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pollination compatibility:\u00a0<\/b>Pendolino produces abundant pollen and has a long bloom period. It\u00a0is compatible with many\u00a0of the cultivars we sell.<\/span><\/p>\n

Seascape<\/span><\/h2>\n

Origin: <\/strong>Nikita Botanical Research Station, Yalta, Ukraine<\/span><\/p>\n

Growth habit: <\/strong>good vigour, slightly pendulous branching when mature<\/span><\/p>\n

Cold hardiness: <\/strong>\u00a0good cold hardiness for our zone 8 coastal winters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Characteristics: <\/strong>As one of many “new” cultivars developed in Yalta, there is not much research literature available but from four years observing this variety here on Saturna it seems to do well either in pots or in the ground. The olives are good sized for young trees.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fruit:\u00a0<\/strong>produces medium to large table olives with good flesh to pit ratio when mature<\/span><\/p>\n

Pollinators: <\/strong>Apparently self-incompatible so will need another pollinator such as Universal, Bountiful, Perpetua, Harvest Joy (and most others).<\/span><\/p>\n

Universal<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Origin: <\/b>Nikita Botanical Research Station, Yalta, Ukraine<\/span><\/p>\n

Growth habit: <\/b>good vigour, upright structure, classic erect olive tree shape<\/span><\/p>\n

Cold hardiness: <\/b>\u00a0good cold hardiness for our zone 8 coastal winters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Characteristics: <\/b>As one of many “new” cultivars developed in Yalta, there is not much research literature available but from four years observing this variety here on Saturna it seems to do well either in pots or in the ground.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fruit:\u00a0<\/b>produces medium to large table olives with good flesh to pit ratio when mature<\/span><\/p>\n

Pollinators: <\/b>Leccino, Maurino, Seascape, Frantoio, Harvest Joy, Perpetua (and most others)<\/span><\/p>\n

*SP=self-pollinating<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bella di Cerignola Origin: Puglia, Italy Growth habit: Medium vigor, prefers fertile soils. Reaches medium height with dense crown and slight weeping branches. Cold hardiness: Reputedly less hardy than the rest of our offerings but\u00a0trees in pots here at the nursery show hardiness comparable to most other cultivars. Fruit: Cerignola olives are primarily picked green […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-530","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P3BZxh-8y","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/olivetrees.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/530","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/olivetrees.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/olivetrees.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olivetrees.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olivetrees.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=530"}],"version-history":[{"count":201,"href":"https:\/\/olivetrees.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/530\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4747,"href":"https:\/\/olivetrees.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/530\/revisions\/4747"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/olivetrees.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=530"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}