Phillyrea is a genus belonging to Oleaceae (Olive) family, consisting of two species; Phillyrea latifolia and Phillyrea angustifolia.

Phillyrea latifolia is an evergreen shrub or small tree, growing to 5–9 m tall and 3-5 m wide, it has a  lifespan  over 100 years. Green Olive Tree is native to the Mediterranean basin, found naturally in southern Europe (Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece), northwest Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia) and southwest Asia (Türkiye). In Türkiye plant naturally grown; Türkiye in Europe, Outer Anatolia and Islands (Tekirdağ, Çanakkale, İstanbul, Sakarya, Zonguldak, Sinop, Tokat, Trabzon, Balıkesir, Aydin, Muğla, İsparta, İçel, Adana). It grows from sea level to approximately 1.350 meters above sea level, including both rocky slopes and compacted clay soils. The term Phillyrea comes from Greek and refers to trees with leaves like the olive tree, while latifolia means broadleaf. The plant is also known as Black Labyrinth or Black Larch in English.

The leaves of Phillyrea latifolia are in opposite pairs, shiny, dark green, leathery, ovate to lanceolate, 2–6 cm long and 0.5–2 cm broad. The leaves have entire or finely toothed margins. Flowering occurs during spring, hermaphroditic flowers are small, greenish white, produced in short clusters. The fruit is a drupe 3-8 mm, black or dark purple when ripe containing a single seed, resembling small olives. They usually appear in autumn and are a food source for birds.

Green Olive Tree prefers full sun or partial shade. It tolerates calcareous, siliceous, poorly draining clayey, nutrient-poor and sandy soils. Although prefers a neutral to acid soil also tolerates some lime. It shows some tolerance to salinity, which allows its use in coastal gardens and areas near the sea. Once its roots are well established, the plant is highly resistant to drought. It is virtually free from significant insect attacks or fungal diseases. Plants are hardy to about -15°C. Propagation is done either with seeds or cuttings.

Use in Landscape: Phillyrea latifolia has adapted to a wide range of environments withstands prolonged periods of drought and mild frosts, making it a key species for restoring degraded areas, revegetating slopes, and protecting hillsides. It plays an essential role in the soil retention and erosion prevention due to its powerful root system and dense foliage. It tolerates pruning and trimming very well, allowing it to adapt to both free-form shapes and compact hedges or plant screens.

Green Olive Tree, traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory and astringent properties