Osmanthus - "Sweet Osmanthus"

Family: Oleaceae

Common Name(s): NA

Native to: Asia

Flowering: Summer

Watering: Keep soil moist

Planting Aspect: Full sun to part shade

Preferred Climate:

 

Temperate, Subtropical, Grassland

Description

"Sweet Osmanthus" (Osmanthus fragrans) has broad, deep green leaves which act as a foil to the clusters of very small, creamy white or yellow flowers which are held towards the ends of the branches. The fragrance from the rather inconspicuous flowers is reminiscent of jasmine or gardenia and the plant flowers intermittently from spring to autumn. The fragrance from this plant is internationally savoured by everyone who has them growing in their garden. This shrub usually grows to a height of only 3 to 4 metres but can reach far greater heights if favoured conditions prevail. However it can easily be trained to grow in containers to a lessor height.

"Delavay Osmanthus" (Osmanthus delavayi) is a popular evergreen bushy shrub with long, serrated, oval, dark green leaves held on arching branches on an erect and branching bush. It produces small, highly perfumed, tubular white flowers borne profusely in the leaf axils and at the ends of the branches. In summer, the flowers with their distinctive fragrance are reminiscent of jasmine or gardenia. Delavay is a slow growing plant to an eventual height and spread of around 2 metres. It grows in most areas and can be used as a hedge or screening plant but can also be grown in a pot.

Cultivation