Osmanthus x burkwoodii
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- x Osmarea burkwoodii
- Phonetic Spelling
- oz-MAN-thus berk-WOOD-e-i
- Description
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Burkwood osmanthus is an Asian hybrid evergreen shrub or small tree in the Oleaceae or olive family. The parents of this plant are the Chinese Osmanthus delavayi and the Turkish Osmanthus decorus. It is a dense, slow-growing, and large shrub that has dark green semi-glossy leaves, and clusters of small fragrant flowers in the spring. It seldom produces fruits, but if seen they are small, oval, blue to purplish-black drupes. With a tall and dense growth habit, Burkwood osmanthus reaches up to 8 feet tall and is equally as wide. Zones 6 to 8 are ideal for planting, though this shrub will grow slowly even under perfect conditions.
The genus name is derived from the Greek osme, meaning fragrance, and anthos, meaning flowers. Burkwoodii refers to Burkwood and Shipwith which is an English nursery where the hybrid was created,
Locate this shrub in an area with average well-drained soils anywhere from full sun to partial shade, though flower production is best in full sun. While it will not tolerate wet feet, it does appreciate supplemental irrigation. It tolerates heavy clay, alkaline soils, pollution, shade, and drought.
Blooms of tubular white flowers with four lobes appear in the axils of leaves in spring. While the flowers are somewhat inconspicuous, they are highly aromatic with a fragrance reminiscent of vanilla. Flowers appear on last season's wood in the spring; therefore, it is best to prune directly after flowering. Blue to purplish black fruits may follow the flowers in the fall. With dark green semi-glossy leathery evergreen leaves, this shrub has year-round interest.
Utilize this easy-to-grow, low-maintenance shrub as a screening hedge or as a specimen plant in a sensory garden. It is also ideal for a woodland setting. An excellent choice for that difficult dry shade corner of the landscape. Deer browsing is almost nonexistent for this plant.
Seasons of Interest:
Bloom: Spring Foliage: Year-round Fruits: Fall (rarely seen)
Quick ID Hints:
- Two types of leaves, serrulate and entire
- Opposite leaves
- Lenticels on the stems
- Fragrant, inconspicuous flowers in spring
- Evergreen shrub with decussate leaf arrangement
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious pest and disease problems.
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Duchess of Albany'
- 'Etoile Violette'
- 'Duchess of Albany'
- 'Duchess of Albany', 'Etoile Violette'
- Tags:






- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Duchess of Albany'
- 'Etoile Violette'
- 'Duchess of Albany'
- 'Duchess of Albany', 'Etoile Violette'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Osmanthus
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Play Value:
- Easy to Grow
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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 Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are an ovoid bluish purple-black to black drupe that are seldom seen in cultivation.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are white, 4-lobed, fragrant, less than an inch in size, and have 2 yellow stamens. Inflorescence is a short cyme in leaf axils.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Cuneate
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are opposite, decussate, simple, ovate to elliptic, narrow acute apex, cuneate base, and have serrulate marginal teeth (mature leaves tend to be entire). Leaves are matte dark green above and paler beneath. They are glabrous and 1-1.5" long.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Description:
- Twigs are squarish, green, and have numerous lenticels.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Slope/Bank
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Pollution