Why an artificial olive tree works where a real one won't
The olive tree has quietly become one of the most sought-after indoor trees in Australian homes — that silvery, two-tone foliage and the gnarled Mediterranean trunk bring a calm, considered feel to a room. The catch with a living olive is that it wants what most indoor spots can't give it: hours of direct sun, careful watering and steady warmth. Away from a bright, north-facing window it drops leaves and sulks. A faux olive gives you the same look in any corner, any light, all year — no watering, no dropped leaves, no bare patch in winter.
Choosing the right size
Our olives run from a 70cm mini to a 3.35m giant, so the trick is matching the tree to the job:
- 70cm–90cm — tabletops, benchtops, shelves and reception desks.
- 1.2m–1.7m — the everyday floor plant: beside a sofa, in an entry, or framing a fireplace.
- 1.9m–2.3m — a room anchor for an empty corner or a tall bare wall.
- 3.35m — atriums, stairwells, double-height voids and commercial foyers.
Not sure which fits? Send us a photo of the space and we'll suggest the right size — that's usually quicker than guessing from a screen.
What makes a faux olive look real
Up close, realism comes down to the trunk and the leaf. Ours use textured, natural-toned trunks rather than a single moulded pole, and hand-detailed foliage with the true olive two-tone — deeper green on top, silver-grey beneath. Fuller branch structures read as real from across a room; sparse, evenly spaced leaves are the giveaway on cheaper trees.
Potting and styling
Most of our olives arrive pre-potted and ready to place. If you'd rather match your own interior, drop the tree into a decorative planter — a matte, earthy pot leans Mediterranean, while raw concrete or aged metal leans modern. Browse artificial plants in pots for options, or the wider artificial trees range if you're weighing an olive against a fiddle leaf or ficus.
For offices, cafés and fit-outs
Olives are a workhorse in commercial spaces — Mediterranean warmth with no watering and no light requirement, which suits foyers, meeting rooms and hospitality fit-outs. For larger or multi-tree orders, our commercial team can help you spec the right pieces.
Common questions
Do artificial olive trees look fake?
From normal viewing distance, no — the trunk texture and two-tone foliage are what sell it, and the real-touch detailing holds up close as well.
Do they fade in sunlight?
Indoors they hold their colour indefinitely. For a sunny outdoor spot, ask us which pieces are suited to it before you buy.
Do they need any care?
An occasional dust, and nothing more — no water, no feeding, no pruning.