“Bring a touch of the Mediterranean home with this elegant Olea europaea standard (Olive Tree). With its silvery evergreen foliage and 50cm stem, standing 140-150cm tall when planted, it makes a stunning focal point for patios, terraces and entrances.”

Olives like sun and excellent drainage. They are much happier in a sunny, free-draining container than sitting in wet compost over winter.

Key Features:

• Evergreen – attractive silvery-green foliage throughout the year.

• 50cm stem – gives it a smart, elevated tree shape.

• Mediterranean appearance – instantly adds a warm, sophisticated look.

• Slow growing – relatively easy to keep at a manageable size.

• Drought tolerant once established – particularly once the root system is well developed.

• Long lived – olives can become magnificent mature trees over many years.

• Potential to flower and fruit – olives can produce small creamy-white flowers and, in favourable warm UK conditions, fruit.

It would look particularly good as a pair, one either side of a doorway or garden entrance. The RHS also specifically recommends olives as smart container plants and suggests combining them with lavender, catmint, cistus or other silvery-green plants.

How to look after it:

Position: Full sun is best. A warm, sheltered position is ideal, particularly against a south- or west-facing wall.

Watering: Don't keep it permanently wet. Allow the compost to dry slightly between watering. Good drainage is especially important for container-grown olives.

Feeding: During spring and summer, feed regularly with a balanced fertiliser. This encourages healthy foliage and growth.

Winter: Although olives are reasonably hardy, severe frost can damage branches. For a pot-grown tree, the RHS recommends moving it to a frost-free position during severe winter weather, or protecting it with horticultural fleece.

Pruning: Lightly prune in spring to maintain the shape and remove dead or unwanted growth.