Sweet Osmanthus (Osmanthus fragrans)

Sweet Osmanthus

(Osmanthus fragrans)

Sun Jiao (Interaccoonale)

CC BY 4.0

Image By: Sun Jiao (Interaccoonale)

Recorded By:

Copyright Notice: Photo by: Sun Jiao (Interaccoonale) | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 | Uploader: Interaccoonale | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Osmanthus_fragrans-IMG_20171008_072549.jpg | Notes: {{Crusier|en=Western Redcedar (''[[Thuja plicata]]'') in [[Rogów Arboretum]], Poland|pl=Żywotnik olbrzymi (''[[Thuja plicata]]'') w [[Arboretum w Rogowie]]|data=2010-06-05}} [[Category:Thuja plicata]] [[Category:Arboretum Rogow]] |

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Osmanthus fragrans, commonly known as Sweet Osmanthus, is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to East Asia, particularly found in the Himalayas through southern China to Taiwan and southern Japan. It thrives in a range of habitats including woodland margins, hillsides, and along streams, often in partial shade. Mature plants can reach 3–12 m (9.8–39.4 ft) tall with a similar spread, featuring leathery, glossy leaves and a dense, rounded form. The highly aromatic flowers bloom in late summer to autumn, varying in color from white to pale yellow, yellow, or orange-yellow. They are small, around 1 cm (0.39 in) long, with a four-lobed corolla 5 mm (0.20 in) in diameter. The fruit is a purple-black drupe 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) long, maturing in spring.

Sweet Osmanthus is valued for its delightful fragrance, which resembles ripe peaches or apricots, making it a popular choice for sensory gardens and as a specimen plant. It is also used in traditional Chinese medicine and to flavor teas and sweets. This plant is relatively low-maintenance, tolerating a range of soil conditions, though it prefers well-drained soil and can grow in full sun to part shade. While it is generally pest-resistant, scale insects and sooty mold can occasionally be problematic. Cultivars like ’Yanhua’ offer gardeners choices in foliage variegation and flower color. Sweet Osmanthus should be pruned after flowering to maintain shape and promote vigorous growth.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Tree, Shrub
Height: 12-25 feet
Width: 10-20 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Orange, White
Flowering Season: Fall, Winter, Spring
Leaf Retention: Evergreen

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Medium
Drainage: Medium

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Fire Resistant, Fragrant, Hedges, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Salt Tolerant, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

Woodland margins, hillsides, and along streams in East Asia, particularly the Himalayas through southern China to Taiwan and southern Japan

Other Names

Common Names: Sweet Olive, Tea Olive, Fragrant Olive, Duftblüte, Olivier Odorant, Flor-Do-Emperador, 桂花, Gin-Mokusei, Mu Xi

Scientific Names: , Osmanthus fragrans,

GBIF Accepted Name: Osmanthus fragrans Lour.