One of the most wonderfully powerful fragrances I've ever had the pleasure of smelling. Extracts from the flower are highly valuable, and are used in some of the most expensive perfumes. Sweet Olive grows beautifully in Mississippi (U.S.) I was "told" that once a plant reaches 50 years old, it will start producing olives. Also called fragrant osmanthus or sweet olive, tea olive (Osmanthus fragrans) produces tiny, easily overlooked white or orange blossoms that release an intense but pleasant apricot fragrance. Tiny flower clusters have a delightful apricot-like fragrance. Cooperative Extension prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status. Sku #6315. I bought this plant about 4 years ago in a 1 gallon in Alexandria, LA. It is now 6 feet tall. Osmanthus fragrans - Sweet Olive Sweet Olive is a rounded evergreen shrub with delicate and fragrant white flowers that bloom in spring against glossy green foliage. Kinmokusei, is the Japanese name for this plant and after being told about Japan's affinity for it, I found that the hedges outside my apt. Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater. Sweet Olive, Fragrant Tea Olive, Orange Sweet Olive, Japanese Orange Osmanthus, Osmanthus fragrans v. aurantiacus, Osmanthus fragrans aurantiacus Previous Next Quite hardy, Osmanthus fragrans f. aurantiacus (Fragrant Olive) is a medium-sized evergreen shrub or small tree of upright oval to columnar habit, prized for the powerful apricot fragrance of its flowers. Suited to hedging and topiary. On Sep 25, 2008, SageOne from Birmingham, AL (Zone 7b) wrote: Mine is blooming now. The foliage is a bit different from standard tea olive, larger with an attractive serated edge. These unusually scented flowers come on in late winter, signaling the beginning ⦠On Dec 2, 2012, gardenspecialist from MacAlester, OK wrote: I just love this plant when it is in full bloom. Extracts from the flower are highly valuable, and are used in some of the most expensive perfumes. Not just because of the sublime fragrance: he's "grandfathered" in since I planted him before I converted exclusively (almost) to North American native plants. It has less foliage and much more inflorescence than the "typical" orange tea olive. The shiny, medium-green leaves have paler undersides and are joined Mine is about 8-10 ft high. Sweet olive, or sweet osmanthus (Osmanthus fragrans), a 10-metre (33-foot) tree, produces an edible fruit. If it grows it will be well worth it. The shrub blooms recurrent white flowers but is better known for the soothing aroma emitted into the air -- ⦠Height varies from 6 to 30 feet tall depending on species and cultivar. Osmanthus fragrans is a popular landscape shrub in many southern gardens. Broad, dense, compact. Fancy that! I wasn't sure it could survive here but it has lived for close to 10 years, in a sheltered spot against my house. Tea Olive or Sweet Olive, scientifically known as Osmanthus fragrans and Osmanthus aurantiacus, are perhaps the most fragrant shrubs and trees on the planet...in our gardens for sure. Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours), Very fragrant, small white flowers in fall; some flowers in early spring, Opposite, simple, leathery, lustrous, dark green leaves; 2-5 in. On Feb 7, 2013, JoannCooper from Bluffton, SC (Zone 8b) wrote: I bought this plant some years ago from a nursery that I know and trust, so I'm sure it's aurantiacus - however it still has not bloomed so I can't be sure. You can literally smell it in the air all around the city. Was expecting ⦠:), This is my second Christmas with my poinsettia, which ... read more, They look to prefer evergreens. I immediately recognized the story as the smell from my childhood. Sweet olive (Osmanthus fragrans) is an evergreen with delightfully fragrant blossoms and dark shiny leaves. Wonderful. Osmanthus Fragrans - Tea Olive Tea Olive, also called Sweet Olive, is a large evergreen shrub that will make a beautiful and fragrant addition to your yard or garden area. Sweet Osmanthus Osmanthus fragrans. Read our Commitment to Diversity | Read our Privacy Statement. The plant has thrived, much to my delight! Osmanthus fragrans - fragrant tea olive . The rest of the year...it's just an evergreen foundation plant, anchoring a corner of my house. For more information about sweet olive tree propagation, read on. This species belongs to the genus Osmanthus. Just one plant can fill ⦠Virtually pest free, these dense bushes require little care and are easy to propagate from sweet olive cuttings. Unfortunately, it hasn't flowered yet. On Dec 5, 2009, FT from Tigard, OR (Zone 8a) wrote: This shrub, after it gets about 5' tall, and in full sun, blooms beautifully in October. long; finely dentate or entire. The blooms are rather inconspicuous but they are extremely fragrant! A large evergreen shrub or small tree with a broad upright form that is densely branched and covered with finely toothed, dark green foliage. How can such small orange flowers put out such a massive scent? Zones LS, CS, TS; USDA 8-11. building were the same plant! I planted the small plant close to my home in direct sunlight. Throughout my youth I recall the sweet odor of this plant in several seasons, most notably in the fall. :). When I moved to South Carolina I brought it along and it has thrived here. In three years it has gone from a scrawny 12 inches tall to a beautiful, full, 5 foot tall shrub. N.C. I'm going to try to start a few cuttings so I can plant elsewhere. I guess it's the warmer temperatures from Lake Eufaula (which I am next to) that keeps the freezes from damaging it. Tea Olive trees (also known as sweet olive, sweet osmanthus, and fragrant olive) are technically an evergreen shrub. How to Grow Sweet Olive in a Container. On Oct 3, 2011, overthere from Tokyo,Japan wrote: I live in Tokyo and I have just learned that the aroma of the Fragrant Tea Olive is synonymous with autumn here. It is planted in full sun on the south side of the house, and, based on other posts I've read, I hope to see flowers this coming fall. Since I got it and planted it in our shale ground it has shot up and is in the stages of growing taller than our house. 21 members have or want this plant for trade. If you are thinking of getting this plant, it is worth the try. Not just because of the sublime fragrance: he's "grandfathered" in since I planted him before I converted exclusively (almost) to North American native plants. I live in middle Tennessee with a climate zone of @ 6a. El olivo fragante, olivo dulce u osmanto oloroso (Osmanthus fragrans en chino, æ¡è±; pinyin, guìhuÄ; Japonés: éæ¨ç kinmokusei) es una especie de arbusto de la familia Oleaceae nativo de Asia, que se encuentra desde el Himalaya hasta China (Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan), Taiwán y el sur del Japón. Common names include tea olive, although it isnât a member of the olive family, and false holly for its spiny, holly-like leaves. Absolutely bullet proof: no problems of any kind and no drought or winter has changed its appearance or hardiness an iota. I hope to someday fill the meadow here with the sweetness of this plant. Sweet olive and tea olive are two common names for Osmanthus fragrans, an evergreen species of tree grown for its fragrant flowers and glossy ⦠Although the blooms aren't big and showy, their enchanting sweet fragrance makes up for what they lack in size. I do prune it to keep it from getting too wide, but I don't try to control the height. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. No supplemental watering period, ever. It can attain heights to 20' but is usually seen in the 6' range. (The happiest one I have grows at the base of a downspout) Mine have responded very well to applications of an acid organic fetilizer starting in early spring. It is getting afternoon sun and I think it is getting enough, but maybe not. When it's in bloom, everyone in the area knows it, even if you can't really see the flowers unless you're standing beside the shrub/tree. Fragrant Tea Olive has opposite, shiny, dark green toothed or smooth leaves, and both types can be present on the plant at the same time. Positive: On Apr 19, 2003, 147852369 from Brooksville, FL wrote: The Tea Olive does very well here in Brooksville, Florida (U.S.) Neutral Osmanthus fragrans, commonly called fragrant olive, sweet olive or sweet tea, produces clusters of not particularly showy flowers that have an extremely powerful apricot fragrance. Long a favorite of Southern gardeners. Fragrant princess dwarf tea olive osmanthus 'kaori hime' this has to be one of the most incredible new introductions of this species in recent memory. [1] [2 Tea olives are often marketed as "drought tolerant", but I have found that they do better with rich soil and plenty of moisture when young. Uses. On Sep 8, 2009, inducer93 from Cookeville, TN wrote: I grew up in Shreveport, La. This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions: On Jul 6, 2016, sueroderus from Bluffton, SC (Zone 8b) wrote: For whatever reason this Osmanthus has never bloomed very much for me in zone 8b coastal SC. She told me of the frequent blooming and wonderful odor of this plant . I allow ver... read morey few "aliens" into my yard/garden...this is one of the exceptions. The flowers of this plant are used in teas and other beverages that are consumed in the Far East. Osmanthus fragrans (Sweet Osmanthus, fragrant Tea olive) Sweet Tea Olive is large evergreen shrub or small tree is capable of reaching 6-8 m in height and width but is most often seen at 3-4 m high with a 2 m spread. Some describe it as a rose scent, others as gardenia and still others as jasmine. I never knew where this odor came from until a friend in Shreveport gave me a small sweet olive as a gift. On Oct 13, 2010, Pianokey56 from Fort Mill, SC wrote: I think I have a new hybrid version of osmanthus fragrans aurantiacus (orange tea). y few "aliens" into my yard/garden...this is one of the exceptions. Osmanthus fragrans is a shrub or small tree recognized more by its fragrance than its appearance. I brought it home to Southeastern Oklahoma hoping it would grow, since our friends in Alexandria had one and I wanted one too. Smaller leafed cultivars of holly tea olive (Osmanthus heterophyllus), Fortuneâs tea olive (O. x fortunei) and Delavay tea olive (O. delavayi) make good hedges and can be maintained as low as 4 feet tall. Color of new leaves is light green deeping to a nice medium green. The bi-color effe... read morect makes an interesing effect even when the plant is not blooming. Width is similar to height. It is at least 10 ft tall and the foliage is very dense, unlike my other tea olives. Osmanthus fragrans leaf and flower detail, 'Thunbergii' Flower and Leaf (Duke Garden). sweet olive, tea olive osmanthus fragrans. I also have pictures of a "normal" orange tea and a fudingzhu tea olive and this looks very much like a fudingzhu tea with orange flowers. It's tea olive, the glossy-leaved shrub known by the scientific name Osmanthus fragrans. Propagating Sweet Olive Trees The fragrance at its peak bloom time is overwhelming. Tea olive, a plant of the genus Osmanthus in the family Oleaceae, often grown for its fragrant flowers and shining, evergreen foliage.There are about 15 species, native to eastern North America, Mexico, southeastern Asia, Hawaii, and New Caledonia. It ⦠Year in and out, always incredible. the leaves are ⦠Their flowers might be small but they sure pack a fragrant punch in the landscape. Gardeners use tea olive as a broadleaf evergreen hedge or screen in ⦠Osmanthus fragrans, or Sweet Olive (Tea Olive), belongs to Olive Family (Oleaceae) along with numerous jasmines.It is evergreen tree or shrub with a moderate growth rate, native to China. Grows at a moderate rate to 15ft. Fact or fiction, I don't know. NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to The flowers of this plant are used in teas and other beverages that are consumed in the Far East. Osmanthus Fragrans, better known as the Fragrant Tea Olive, produces small white blooms that pack a punch. On a warm day its fragrance fills the yard. Blooming profusely from fall to spring, the large clusters of tiny, creamy-white flowers cover this densely branched shrub. Was expecting a lot more in the way of flowering. tall, 810 feet wide (though older plants may reach 30 feet tall, 1215 feet wide). It is at least 10 ft tall and the foliage is very dense, unlike my other tea olives. I am going to try to upload a picture of it. DESCRIPTION: Native to Asia, this gently scented flowering shrub has an upright growth habit and large evergreen foliage; clusters of tiny creamy-gold flowers. It has glossy dark green leaves 2"x-4" with toothed edges and small 0.5" flowers usually hidden by foliage, with a strong apricot-like fragrance that can be smelled from a distance. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It is frost sensitive and injury will affect flowering the following fall. Native to China, Japan, Himalayas. On May 27, 2013, RonDEZone7a from Wilmington, DE (Zone 7a) wrote: I am in Zone 7a northern Delaware and I have had an Osmanthus fragrans 'Aurantiacus' for several years. Read on to learn about growing Osmanthus plants. Osmanthus fragrans is also known as tea olive or sweet olive. I grew it for several years in my Z 7a Virginia garden, where it sulked and remained quite small - but it did survive. USES: Very versatile slow growing shrub. form a strategic partnership called N.C. If he ever comes in late or slack with that incredible fragrance, however, he's in jeopardy: I could replace him with a native osmanthus or cyrilla in a minute! If he ever comes in late or slack with that incredible fragrance, however, he's in jeopardy: I could replace him with a native osmanthus or cyrilla in a minute! They have glossy evergreen leaves and their clusters of small white flowers are heavily fragrant, well-loved for their heady floral perfume. With a big feeder ... read more, Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the Davesgarden.com. Itâs regionally native to China, The Himalayas, Taiwan, and it has definitely embedded itself in their culture and thereâs a very good reason why this flower (or herb) is so popular. Sort of a mix of Apricot and Jasmine! It has occasionally had some cold damage - mostly just bronzed leaves - but overall it is putting on size. Commonly, you can call the plant tea olive or sweet olive, as both names nod to the sweet scent emitted by the plant's tiny white blooms. Osmanthus fragrans 'Fudingzhu' (Fragrant Olive) is a medium-sized evergreen shrub or small tree of upright oval to columnar habit, prized for the powerful fragrance of its flowers. The least cold-hardy osmanthus; very fragrant flowers in the fall; dense habit; responds well to pruning for shape; large specimen for open areas. Tea Olives, often called "sweet olive" and scientifically known as Osmanthus, are exceptionally easy to grow and care for when planted right and in the right spot.They grow well in any average, well-drained, moist soil. PLANTING: Plant in well drained soil in a full sun to partly shaded position in the garden. When established, Tea olive are exceptionally drought tolerant. ct makes an interesing effect even when the plant is not blooming. I've pruned it a couple of times and it has gotten alot fuller. Itâs not surprising that the tea olive tree (Osmanthus fragrans) has long been a favorite of gardeners and landscapers, with its beautiful fragrant flowers and notable hardiness.The tree can bloom several times a year, its white flowers filling the air with a distinctive, peach- or orange-like scent. So I'm not sure if it is just too cold for it (and flowering buds are getting killed) or if I just need to be more patient? Evergreen sweet olive (Osmanthus fragrans) is so named because it belongs to the same family, Oleaceae, as olive trees (Olea europaea). It now has 1.5-2 inch diameter base and is currently in full bloom throughout its eight foot height. Deer resistant, drought tolerant, and slightly salt tolerant. ( nurseries caroliniana ) "we found this cultivar in Japan in November, 2009 & the parent plant was in full flower".