Ten Weird Facts About Olive Trees
• Olive trees are resistant to drought, disease and even fire. • They have a life expectancy of 500 years. • They are excellent topiary trees. • They naturally grow to a height of around 30 feet. • Whether an olive is green or black depends on the stage of ripeness. • They have expansive root systems that may allow a tree to regrow even if it is destroyed or cut down above ground. • Humans have cultivated olives for more than 8000 years; there are trees in Lebanon that are thought to be 60 centuries old. • They are among the most culturally-relevant plants, earning mentions throughout literature worldwide as well as in the Jewish Torah, the Muslim Qur'an and the Christian Bible. • Olive trees may begin to produce edible treats in as little as three years. • They are technically fruit trees; olives are technically fruits. There are hundreds of varieties of olive trees. Many of them produce table olives and others are cultivated so their fruits may be pressed for olive oil.