Leccino olive is a celebrated Tuscan cultivar that brings authentic Italian olive oil production into your own garden. Hardy in zones 8-11, this heirloom variety thrives in full sun and produces fragrant blooms in fall (September-October) before setting fruit. The silvery-green foliage persists year-round, creating a beautiful Mediterranean accent whether you're harvesting olives for oil or simply enjoying the tree as an ornamental. Now cultivated worldwide from California to the Southwest, Leccino has proven its resilience while retaining the delicate flavor profile that made it a cornerstone of Tuscan olive oil.
Full Sun
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8-9
300in H x ?in W
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High
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Leccino olives carry the authentic taste of Tuscany into climates across the American South and West. The tree's persistent silver-green leaves offer year-round visual interest, and its proven track record in California and southwestern gardens means you're growing a variety trusted by serious olive producers. Its primary role in Italian oil production speaks to both its reliability and its culinary pedigree.
Leccino olives are pressed into oil, honoring their primary role in Italian olive oil production. Home gardeners in warm climates can harvest the fall fruit for oil pressing or brining, depending on ripeness and preference. The tree also serves as an attractive year-round ornamental, with its persistent silvery-green foliage providing Mediterranean garden aesthetics even when fruit production is not the primary goal.
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Harvest Leccino olives in fall, typically from September through October when blooms have set fruit and the berries have matured. Fruit intended for oil pressing should reach full ripeness; visual cues include color darkening and slight softening of the fruit. Pick olives by hand or allow them to drop naturally onto tarps beneath the tree, then process promptly for fresh oil or curing.
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“Leccino originated in Tuscany, where it became one of the primary cultivars for traditional Italian olive oil production. Its reputation for delivering a delicate flavor profile made it a staple across the Tuscan olive-growing region. Over time, the variety spread beyond Italy and has proven itself exceptionally well-adapted to California and southwestern American climates, establishing itself as a globally viable cultivar while remaining deeply connected to its Mediterranean heritage.”