Olea europaea, is an evergreen, fragrant, multi-trunked tree or shrub that does extremely well in our Bay Area Mediterranean climate. It’s short and squat, and rarely exceeds 30′ in height. It features silvery green, oblong leaves with a typically gnarled and twisted trunk. Small, white, feathery flowers appear on the previous year’s wood. There are many cultivars to consider that don’t bear fruit for a screen or hedge.