At 180cm it sits comfortably under a standard 240cm ceiling. Height includes the planter you stand it in, so measure at the exact spot if you have sloping eaves or a stairwell.

The trunk is twisted and asymmetric, with the bark texture of an aged olive shaped by decades of sun and wind. It reads as grown rather than manufactured, and it's the first thing the eye catches from across a room.

The foliage is two-tone, darker on top and paler silver beneath, so it catches the light the way real olive leaves do. Olive clusters finish the tree and hold up to a close look.

The branches can be shaped by hand. Trunk shape and branch placement vary a little from tree to tree.

Shaping. The tree is packed with its canopy compressed, so spend ten minutes when it arrives bending the branches outward and downward. Aim for irregular rather than symmetrical.

Dusting. About once a month, use a soft dry brush, a feather duster or a hairdryer on its cool setting. No water, on the leaves or in the planter.

Light. Bright indirect light keeps the colour truest. Strong all-day sun will lighten any faux foliage over the years.

Indoors only. It isn't weatherproof, so keep it out of rain and frost.

Place it where the eye skips over: an empty corner, the end of a hallway, beside a fireplace or next to a sofa. A spot near a window looks most natural.

A woven basket from our baskets and storage is the favourite pairing. A matt ceramic from pots and vases suits a period hallway or a more formal dining room. Finish the top with moss or smooth stones.

An uplighter from our lighting collection, set behind the tree, throws leaf shadows across the wall, which is the most convincing touch of all.

Current delivery timing for this item is on our delivery page. If it isn't right once it's in the room, our returns process is straightforward.

0% interest-free finance is available at checkout, and our price match promise applies if you find it for less. For a hotel, restaurant or holiday let, ask about trade accounts.

Is a pot or basket included?

Please check the product images and details for what's supplied. If you're choosing your own planter, aim for around 55cm to 60cm tall so the proportions look right.

Can it go in a room with no natural light?

Yes. That's one of the best reasons to choose faux, because a real olive wouldn't survive an internal hallway.

Will it fade?

In normal indoor light it holds its colour for years. It will lighten faster in a south-facing window that gets sun all day.

Is it suitable for allergy sufferers?

Yes. There's no pollen, no soil and nothing living in it.