Olive is the greenery most closely tied to the image of southern and central Italy: narrow leaves, silvery underneath, flexible branches. It is used in two ways: cut branches for garlands, table runners and bouquets, and potted trees, usually hired, to mark entrances, aisles and ceremony backdrops. It is at the heart of Mediterranean styling, with citrus and white flowers.
It copes well with heat and lasts a long time, but cut branches shed a few leaves after some days. Potted trees are heavy: they need to be planned into the set-up and the hire. The guide to lemons, oranges and olive in floral design explains how to use it; the one on Mediterranean style puts it centre stage; the one on Puglia describes the masserie (fortified farmhouses) among the olive groves.
What to ask: whether the trees are hired, how heavy they are, whether the branches come from local pruning.
