Starting Year: 2013;
Provenance: Dalmatia, Croatia;
Container: Ceramic by Horst Heinzlreiter;
Source: Yamadori.

Style: Sharimiki;
Height: 63cm;
Nebari: 25cm;
Estimated Age: Around 100 years old.

This remarkable olive began its bonsai journey in 2013, when it was collected from the rugged limestone terrain of Dalmatia. Once a full-sized tree reaching nearly five meters with a wide canopy, it had long before been broken down by fierce coastal storms. What remained was a resilient survivor—its trunk weathered by wind and stone, naturally contoured by time, and full of character-rich deadwood.

When discovered, the tree was firmly fused into solid rock. Traditional yamadori excavation was impossible, so only the base and a short section of trunk could be taken. It carried almost no roots—just a few delicate, hair-thin filaments—yet its will to live proved extraordinary. In its first season, the olive pushed out a vigorous new shoot, followed later by a second emerging even lower on the trunk. These two shoots became the architectural backbone of the canopy it now proudly displays.

Today, the tree stands 63 cm tall with a 25 cm nebari, styled in a naturalistic semi-cascade form that highlights its rugged origin. It resides in a handcrafted ceramic container by Horst Heinzlreiter, a fitting complement to its raw beauty. Estimated to be around 100 years old, this olive exemplifies the resilience of Dalmatian wild olives—trees shaped by harsh elements, capable of regenerating almost from nothing.

A living testament to survival, adaptation and the quiet power of nature, it remains one of Dalmatia’s enduring stories in miniature form.