Olea europaea 'Leccino'

Originating in Tuscany, the Olea europaea 'Leccino', or Leccino Olive is a highly ornamental, large olive tree with willow-like drooping branches, dense foliage, and purple-black fruits. Leccino Olive Tree is hardy to zone 8a, which is hardier than most olive tree cultivars. At maturity it can grow to 25 ft tall and 20 ft wide. Leccino is not self-fertile, it does require another variety for pollination; such as, Pendolino, Frantoio, Coratina and Moraiolo. Expect olives in two to four years.

One of the oldest cultivars from Italy. Leccino has become more popular over the past 50 years, and is now commonly grown in California, Chile and Australia, among other olive oil growing regions.

Leccino olives are delicate in flavour with fruity and piquant notes. Brined, these black olives are perfect with panini sandwiches, pasta, chicken or fish dishes. Seasonal production is very high and the olives are large, and of high quality. Harvest in October – November.

Oil volume is lower than other cultivars. The delicate oil is mildly fruity and frequently blended with Pendolino. But it’s also interplanted and blended with Frantoio, Coratina and Moraiolo to produce more robust flavour.

Plant in a warm, sunny, protected area. Prune for production by simply removing damaged, or dry fruit-bearing branches. The ornamental olive tree, on the other hand, is pruned when young to give it a pleasing shape, eliminating dry or diseased branches. Control size and encourage resilience by planting Leccino Olive Tree in containers, and moving into sheltered areas in the winter.