Stunning, but a few major drawbacks
First of all, this tree is gorgeous - multiple main branches, super full and lush, great coloring and design! It is the full 10 ft and it feels that way! It would be totally at home in a grand entrance; it’s something you’d expect to see in a luxury home! But it’s priced higher than other similar options - I’ve seen 9 ft trees for $200, and other (less full) 10 ft trees for $230. At the time I ordered this tree it was listed for $399, though it does usually have a coupon available. There are a few significant drawbacks though, so in the end I’m not positive I can recommend it, despite the wow factor. So a few things to be aware of - they might be obvious but I’m going to say them anyway! 1 - This tree takes up a ton of space. If you’re looking at a 10 ft tree, you probably have a room you’re intending this for. But to make it very clear, this is not the kind of tree that will fit just because you have a spare corner. You need space!! You’re gonna need to give it a good 5-6 feet without any pictures it’s covering up, any mantle decorations it will crowd, any light fixtures or head space it might get in the way of - consider all of that! It’s basically another piece of furniture, and to give it the amount of breathing room it needs in order to not feel crowded, it might need to take the place of a chair or an end table. So be prepared to sacrifice one of those furniture pieces to make this tree work. 2 - Unfortunately, mine came broken. Not the tree, but the pot. It’s made of plastic with concrete in the bottom, so it’s very heavy. I’m sure during shipping it got dropped at one point - the box it arrived in was pretty banged up. They ought to beef up their packaging but if they don’t, be prepared to go through an exchange to get an undamaged product. Which on such a large object is a serious hassle - hopefully they allow you to do ups pickup because otherwise you’ll have to take a very heavy, very large package to ship it which may be impossible with a sedan. 3 - While this tree does come in a pot, it’s not quite a match in style to how grand the tree itself is. So you’ll most likely be investing in a nice planter, so expect to spend up to $100 more for the pot and fillers to finish this tree out. 4 - This is my biggest criticism, after a month of trying to make this work, balancing it with different pots, items placed underneath the pot to stabilize it, and even trying rooms with different carpeting, this tree will not stay upright on carpet! The longest it’s stayed upright has been a day. Literally, it doesn’t even take someone bumping into it - I’ve been in the next room after balancing it perfectly and heard it topple over. I’ve had to lean it against walls just to keep it upright for weeks now. Now it will stay up on hard flooring, but unfortunately every space it will fit in my house is on carpeted areas. It’s possible you might be able to stabilize it with just the right pot, but it would require a large diameter and a completely flat interior, and I’m sure it would take a bit of trial and error to find the right one. 5 - It’s developed a few cracks. One as I’ve styled the branches and two as it’s fallen over multiple times. They’re just cracks in the faux bark, between the body of the tree and the limbs so I don’t expect it will affect how it functions at all, but it’s something to note. 6 - The last consideration - you may be wondering if you can make a 10 ft tree work in a 9 ft ceiling. My master is 9 ft with a 10 ft coffer in the middle and while I can technically make it work, as you might imagine you’d be better off with a 9 ft tree. So really I’d plan to use this only in vaulted spaces! My overall takeaway, this tree is gorgeous and the only one of this height and fullness that I’ve been able to find. So if you are committed to finding a giant olive tree for your space, this one is a beautiful option, and it will give you a seriously grand effect. But if that space is on carpet, you’re going to have to do some extra work to make it work - probably stuffing a sturdy planter full in order to keep it upright…and I still can’t guarantee it’ll stay up. And be prepared to go through an exchange as well. And pay an extra $100 at least compared to other similar sized options. Everything considered, I don’t know if this is the tree I would choose. Read more
