When to Plant Olive Tree in Washington

Growing Olive Tree in Washington: Complete Guide

Olive Tree (Olea europaea) is planted as nursery stock — a container-grown or bare-root plant from a garden center, not seed. Depending on your zone, the ideal spring window in Washington falls between February 24, 2027 (Zone 9b) and May 9, 2027 (Zone 5b); early fall works too, once summer heat breaks.

Because Washington stretches across 9 USDA hardiness zones (5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b), planting windows can shift by as much as six to eight weeks from one end of the state to the other. Gardeners in the warmer southern zones can start earlier, while those in cooler northern zones should wait until the zone table above shows their last frost has passed.

With 1825 days to maturity, Olive Tree fits comfortably within Washington's growing season in most zones. In the warmest parts of the state, a second planting later in the season may be possible.

Olive Tree requires full sun (6-8 hours) and low (drought tolerant) moisture. The Pacific Northwest's cool, wet springs delay soil warm-up; raised beds and black plastic mulch help jump-start the season.

For the most precise planting dates tailored to your exact location, enter your ZIP code on our planting calendar or use the zone table above to find the schedule for your area of Washington.