Olea europaea ssp. africana (100 seeds)

Olea europaea ssp. africana (100 seeds)

Family: Oleaceae

Common names: Wild olive, olienhout

It is a neatly shaped evergreen tree with a dense spreading crown (9 x 12 m) of glossy grey-green to dark-green foliage. Leaves are grey-green to dark-green above and greyish below. The rough, grey bark sometimes peels off in strips. Sprays of tiny, lightly scented white to greenish flowers are followed by small, spherical, thinly fleshy fruits which ripen purple-black and are edible. A tea can be made from the leaves. The hard, heavy and beautiful golden-brown wood is used for furniture, ornaments, spoons and durable fence posts. An ink is made from the juice of the fruit.

Sowing instructions: Seed should be sown in spring or during summer, in a well-drained seedling mix, and need only be covered lightly with the sowing mix, clean coarse sand or milled bark. The trays should be kept moist in a warm but shaded position.

Locality: Bloemfontein. Harvest: March 2024