Osmanthus:

Tea Olive/Sweet Olive/Holly Olive

This week we celebrate four shrubs in the Osmanthus genus by offering 10% off! 

The genus name comes from Greek words “osme” meaning “smell” and “anthos” meaning “flower” which refers to the intense fragrance of these hidden flowers. 

If you answer YES to the following questions, then the following Osmanthus shrubs may be a good fit for your garden:

Do you need something evergreen and deer resistant?

Do you like fragrant blooms?

Do you live in zone 7 or warmer?  (Some varieties are more cold tolerant than others, please note the shrub’s growing zones.)

Osmanthus herophyllus ‘Sasaba’ – Holly Tea Olive

Type: Evergreen Shrub

USDA Growing Zones: 6b-10

Sun Exposure: Full sun-part shade

Size: 6-8’ tall, 3-5’ wide

Soil Needs: Prefers fertile, moist, well-drained soils

Also: Deer resistant.  Fragrant fall blooms.  Extremely spiny – works great as a hedge.  The cold hardiest of the tea olives.  Slow growing at 6-10” per year.

Osmanthus fragrans - Sweet Olive

Type: Evergreen Shrub

USDA Growing Zones: 8b-11

Sun Exposure: Full sun-part shade

Size: 10-15’ tall and wide

Soil Needs: Prefers moist, well-drained soils

Also: Deer resistant.  Fragrant white blooms in spring, and often a rebloom in fall. Osmanthus fragrans is the most fragrant of the Osmanthus genus!In colder climates, can be grown in a container and overwintered indoors.  Edible flowers and leaves are often added to tea, aka Tea Olive.

Osmanthus fragrans var. auranticus  - Orange Sweet Olive

Type: Evergreen Shrub

USDA Growing Zones: 7-10

Sun Exposure: Full sun-part shade

Size: 10-12’ tall, 6-8’ wide

Soil Needs: Prefers moist, well-drained soils

Also: Deer resistant.  Fragrant fall blooms have a perfume reminiscent of apricot.  Osmanthus fragrans is the most fragrant of the Osmanthus genus! Slow growing, suitable for containers, excellent for hedging, screening or espalier.

Osmanthus x fortunei ‘Carl Wheeler’ – Tea Olive

Type: Evergreen Shrub

USDA Growing Zones: 7-10

Sun Exposure: Full-part sun

Size: 10-12’ tall and wide

Soil Needs: Thrives in rich, moist, acidic, well-drained soils

Also: This is a hybrid between O. fragrans and O. heterophyllus and an intermediate between the two parents in most characteristics. Deer resistant.   Highly fragrant white blooms from fall to early winter.  A more cold hardy, dense, and compact version than the species – great for hedging.