Olive
Mission Pollination Guide
Mission can set some fruit on its own, but produces significantly better crops with a pollination partner.
While Mission has some ability to self-pollinate, you'll get noticeably larger harvests and better fruit quality with a compatible variety planted nearby. For the best results, plant one of the recommended partners within 50–100 feet.
Mission Quick Facts
Chill Hours
300 hours
Hardiness Zones
8, 9, 10, 11
Harvest
September to February
Pollination Note
Self-fertile but cross-pollination with Arbequina or Manzanilla improves crop yield
Planning Your Orchard
While many olive varieties are partially self-fertile, yields improve significantly with a second variety nearby. Choose varieties with overlapping bloom periods.
Browse our orchard planning guide or explore the full permanent plant catalog to find the right varieties for your garden.
Keep a record of every tree you plant — variety, rootstock, location.
Start your free tree log →Compatible Pollination Partners
Can I Grow Mission?
Check if your climate has enough chill hours for Mission. Use GPS, map, or zip code for an instant answer.
Check your location →Interactive Pollination Checker
Compare pollination compatibility across all 85+ fruit varieties in our database.
Open checker →Most people forget within a year.
Which pairs fruited well, what bloomed when, what you did each season — write it down from the start.
Free for up to 30 plants. No card needed.
About Mission
Mission is California's heritage olive — brought by Spanish missionaries in the 1700s and still producing after centuries. A dual-purpose variety that excels as both a cured table olive and a rich, peppery oil olive.
Growing Challenges
Slow to bear (4-5 years); alternate bearing without proper pruning; susceptible to olive knot disease in wet climates.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close does a pollinator need to be to Mission?
For reliable pollination, plant the partner variety within 50–100 feet of Mission. Bees are the primary pollinators and typically work within this range. In practice, a tree in your yard or even a neighbor's nearby tree can work. The closer the trees, the more consistent the fruit set.
Can I grow just one Mission tree?
You can, but you'll get significantly better harvests with a compatible partner nearby. Mission is partially self-fertile — it will set some fruit alone, but cross-pollination dramatically improves yield and fruit quality.
Other Olive Varieties
Related Tools
Pollination Checker
Interactive tool to find compatible pollination partners for any fruit tree.
Can I Grow Mission?
Check if your zip code has enough chill hours for this variety.
Chill Hour Checker
Validate chill hours for any fruit tree variety by zip code.
Frost Date Finder
Find your first and last frost dates to plan bloom protection.
Pollination data compiled from university extension services, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) pollination group charts, RosBREED cherry S-allele research, and nursery compatibility guides. Pollination compatibility can vary by region and microclimate. For best results, consult your local extension office.