The Olivastra di Seggiano is an indigenous botanical species found throughout the area of Monte Amiata. This cultivar is above all found in the Province of Grosseto growing between 200 and 650 meters above sea level and concentrated particularly around Seggiano.
Characterized by its ample, rich foliage, the Olivastra is distinguished by the small size and the peculiar colour of its fruits, which are purple-red during the growing phase and black at the maturation stage. Growing high above sea level, it matures earlier compared to other olive oil tree species, whilst instead, it comes into production only after fifteen years.
The plant comes from a particularly robust rootstock: a mountain variety which is well able to resist the low winter temperatures. If it happens to be neglected, it tends to get wild and even forms thorny branches: the cultivar is in fact descended from Olea Europea Silvestris, a form posterior to the wild cultivated olive.
Because of the peculiar characteristics of the territory, it is hardly surprising that attempts to grow this variety elsewhere have not met with success.
Characterized by its ample, rich foliage, the Olivastra is distinguished by the small size and the peculiar colour of its fruits, which are purple-red during the growing phase and black at the maturation stage. Growing high above sea level, it matures earlier compared to other olive oil tree species, whilst instead, it comes into production only after fifteen years.
The plant comes from a particularly robust rootstock: a mountain variety which is well able to resist the low winter temperatures. If it happens to be neglected, it tends to get wild and even forms thorny branches: the cultivar is in fact descended from Olea Europea Silvestris, a form posterior to the wild cultivated olive.
Because of the peculiar characteristics of the territory, it is hardly surprising that attempts to grow this variety elsewhere have not met with success.
