The olive tree has been used by humans for thousands of years, but not typically as a houseplant as you see here. They give that instant Mediterranean feel and are very strong. While trees such as this can grow tall, tending them as small houseplants is also very pleasing. Olives are great to use in the miniature garden because they have a growth habit that looks already complete while the tree is still small. Their petite, fragrant, cream-colored flowers are largely hidden by their elongated leaves. The olive tree produces two kinds of flowers: a perfect flower containing both male and female parts, and a staminate flower with stamens only. The flowers are largely wind pollinated, with most olive varieties being self-pollinating, although fruit-set is usually improved by cross pollination with other varieties. There are self-incompatible varieties that do not set fruit without other varieties nearby, and there are varieties that are incompatible with certain others. Incompatibility can also occur for environmental reasons such as high temperatures.
