Tea Olive Osmanthus fragrans
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- oz-MAN-thus FRAY-granz
- Description
-
Fragrant tea olive is a broadleaf evergreen shrub with a dense habit in the Oleaceae (olive) family and native to Asia. This plant typically grows to a height of 10 to 20 feet and has extremely fragrant flowers that appear in the spring and sporadically in the fall. The scientific name comes from the Greek words for fragrant (osme) and flower (anthos).
Plant this shrub in full sun to partial shade and in moist soils with good drainage. In southern climates afternoon shade is a must. Heavy clay soils are tolerated. Once established this plant is drought tolerant but be sure to supply supplemental watering in hot dry months. It responds well to pruning for shape, to be pruned into a tree or even espalier. If you are in a cooler climate this plant can be grown in containers that are overwintered indoors or as a houseplant.
Plant it as a large specimen for open or lawn areas, use it as a screen or hedge plant, or place it at the back of a perennial border. It works well in Asian, country, or cottage gardens. Placing it near pathways, patios, or entrances ensures you can enjoy the delightful fragrance.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Watch for aphids and scale. It is frost sensitive, and injury will affect flowering the following fall.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Plant Walls and Hedges
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Apricot Gold'
- 'Aurantiacus'
- 'Butter Yellow'
- 'Conger yellow'
- 'Fudingzhu'
- 'Hangzhouhuang'
- 'Thunbergii'
- 'Apricot Gold'
- 'Apricot Gold', 'Aurantiacus', 'Butter Yellow', 'Conger yellow', 'Fudingzhu', 'Hangzhouhuang', 'Thunbergii'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Apricot Gold'
- 'Aurantiacus'
- 'Butter Yellow'
- 'Conger yellow'
- 'Fudingzhu'
- 'Hangzhouhuang'
- 'Thunbergii'
- 'Apricot Gold'
- 'Apricot Gold', 'Aurantiacus', 'Butter Yellow', 'Conger yellow', 'Fudingzhu', 'Hangzhouhuang', 'Thunbergii'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Osmanthus
- Species:
- fragrans
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The flowers of this plant are used in teas and other beverages that are consumed in the Far East. Extracts from the flower are highly valuable, and are used in some of the most expensive perfumes.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Asia
- Play Value:
- Buffer
- Fragrance
- Screening
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer resistant, drought tolerant, and slightly salt tolerant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 14 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- 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 Texture:
- Clay
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Very fragrant smell like apricots, small white flowers in early spring and some in the fall appear in leaf axils.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Opposite, simple, leathery, lustrous, dark green leaves; 2-5 in. long; finely dentate or entire
-
-
Bark:
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Lawn
- Patio
- Recreational Play Area
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Salt
