Buying guide

Indoor Olive Tree for Sale: Can It Live Indoors, and Where to Buy

By the Plantshop.com Editorial Team · Updated 21 Oct 2026 · How we research · Report an error

Silvery, Mediterranean and very fashionable, the indoor olive tree is the plant people most often regret buying for the wrong spot. It is a sun-loving outdoor tree that tolerates life indoors only beside your brightest window or under a strong grow light.

Is an olive tree right for you?

It suits you if you can give it full sun: 6+ hours of direct sun; a south window or outdoors in summer and you are happy to water deeply, then only when the top 2 in (5 cm) is dry; never let it sit in water. Difficulty: Challenging. Not on the ASPCA toxic or non-toxic list; no toxicity is widely reported, but ask your vet if pets chew it. Not sure? Try the Plant Finder.

Similar plants to consider: Monstera, Snake Plant, Fiddle Leaf Fig, Calathea.

Sizes and what you will receive

Online shops sell plants by nursery pot diameter: about 4 in (small, shelf), 6 in (desk or table), 8-10 in (small floor plant) and 12 in and up (floor statement). Height varies a lot within one pot size, so read the listed height too. A mature olive tree can reach 3-6 ft in a pot; pruned to size and growth is slow indoors, so a smaller plant will take time to fill out; buy closer to the size you want.

What to check when buying: a healthy olive tree

• Firm, evenly colored leaves with no mushy stems at the soil line.
• Soil that is not sour-smelling or waterlogged when it arrives.
• No webbing, sticky residue or tiny moving insects under the leaves.
• Roots, if you peek, that are pale and firm rather than brown and soft.

Problems to know about before buying:

• Dropping leaves: Too little light, the most common cause indoors. Move it to the sunniest window or add a grow light.
• Crispy, curled leaves: Dried out completely or hit by heater air. Water deeply and move it away from vents.
• Black, mushy roots: Overwatering or a pot without drainage.

Prices

We do not quote prices until we have checked them. They change with pot size, season and sales. To compare fairly, compare the same pot size and check whether a decorative pot and shipping are included.

Shipping and seasonal risks

Olive trees tolerate cool weather but not a hard freeze in a cold delivery truck. In winter, order from a shop that adds heat packs or holds shipments in freezing weather, and bring the box inside as soon as it arrives. Summer heat in a delivery truck can also damage plants, so avoid long weekends in transit.

Your first week after delivery

1. Unbox right away and photograph any damage; most guarantees need photos within a set window.
2. Water only if the soil is dry; many plants arrive already moist.
3. Give it full sun: 6+ hours of direct sun, but avoid harsh direct sun for a few days.
4. Keep it away from other plants for one to two weeks in case of pests.
5. Wait two to four weeks before repotting. Full care guide: Olive Tree care.

What growers on Reddit say

Short quotes from public threads, linked to the source (checked 21 Oct 2026). Individual experiences, not a verdict.

"Olive trees make great potted plants, but they don't make very good houseplants. They require far more light than they can easily get." u/jitasquatter2, r/houseplants, Jan 2026, source

"Transplanting is one of the worst things you can do for a stressed olive tree in a new environment." u/Sunfleury, r/houseplants, Jul 2025, source

Where to buy an olive tree online, and why

We list a shop only after confirming it currently lists this plant (checked 21 Oct 2026). Stock changes daily. We may earn a commission from some links; it never decides what we list. Disclosure.

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