Best plants for pots all year round – 10 standout varieties

Though associated with the Mediterranean, olive trees are surprisingly adaptable evergreen plants suited to a variety of locations.

‘Olive trees are actually extremely hardy – surviving in temperatures as low as 14°F (-10°c). On a frosty morning they look incredible,’ says Toby Campion, MD of bespoke plant provider Exubia.

Where possible, however, olive trees do love warmth and sunlight, and they need the right conditions in order to bear fruit. 

Temperature is the biggest factor, as they need two months with temperatures below 50°F (10°C), but above 14°F (-10°C), as well as fluctuation between day and night temperatures. 

‘In terms of maintenance, all they require is light pruning around springtime to encourage further growth,’ adds Campion.

You can grow olive trees in USDA zones 6-11, although in zones 6 and 7 you will struggle to get any fruit. However, the trees still make an attractive feature in the garden.