his article is about the tree and the fruit. For other uses, see Olive (disambiguation). For olive oil, see Olive oil.Olive grove, Olive tree, and Olive wood redirect here. For other uses, see Olive grove (disambiguation), Olive tree (disambiguation), and Olive wood (disambiguation).The olive, known by the botanical name Olea europaea, meaning European olive, is a species of small tree in the family Oleaceae, found traditionally in the Mediterranean Basin. The species is cultivated in all the countries of the Mediterranean, as well as South America, South Africa, China, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and the United States.[1][2] Olea europaea is the type species for the genus Olea.

The olive's fruit, also called an olive, is of major agricultural importance in the Mediterranean region as the source of olive oil; it is one of the core ingredients in Mediterranean cuisine. The tree and its fruit give their name to the plant family, which also includes species such as lilacs, jasmine, Forsythia, and the true ash trees