Osmanthus delavayi
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- oz-MAN-thus del-ah-VAH-ee
- Description
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Delavay tea olive is an evergreen, perennial shrub in the olive family (Oleaceae) from south-central China. The genus name is derived from the Greek words meaning “fragrant flower.” The species epithet honors Père Jean Marie Delavay, a 19th-century French missionary and botanical explorer.
This shrub is adaptable to soil types and is drought-tolerant when established. It will grow in shade but flowers best in sun to partial sun. It can be pruned as a hedge or allowed to grow to its natural form. When pruning, keep in mind that next season's blossoms will appear on old (this year’s) growth. Pruning may diminish next year’s floral display.
Delavay tea olive can reach 12 feet tall and wide but is relatively slow growing. The leaves are ovate or lanceolate and toothed along the margins. In early spring, it is covered in fragrant tubular white flowers in axillary and terminal clusters. The lobes of the corolla are shorter than the floral tube. The plants rarely produce fruit in cultivation.
Delavay tea olive is a well-behaved addition to a border, cottage garden, Asian garden, sensory garden or winter garden.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Osmanthus
- Species:
- delavayi
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Fragrance
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Black
- Blue
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small, white flowers on terminal cymes in late winter to spring; 0.5 in. blue-black drupes
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Opposite, simple, lustrous dark green leaves; 0.5-1 in. long; strongly toothed
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Recreational Play Area
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- English Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
