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Osmanthus delavayi

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
oz-MAN-thus del-ah-VAH-ee
Description

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:
Tags:
#evergreen#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#white flowers#shrub#woody shrub#deer resistant#Asian garden#shrub borders#perennial#th-smell
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#white flowers#shrub#woody shrub#deer resistant#Asian garden#shrub borders#perennial#th-smell
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • 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