Osmanthus

Osmanthus

This popular garden favourite has long been valued for its sweetly scented flowers. However, osmanthus also makes a good flowering hedge, as seen in our segment. It flowers on old wood, which means it can be pruned and shaped without cutting off the flower buds and ruining the flower display.

Plant details

Common name: sweet osmanthus, sweet olive Botanic name: Osmanthus fragrans

Description:

An evergreen shrub 3-4m (10-12') tall and about 2m (6') wide. It has glossy, toothed leaves, and apricot-scented, small white flowers from late winter to early December.

The genus name, Osmanthus, is from the Greek osme and anthos, meaning 'odour' and 'flower'. The species name, fragrans, is Latin for 'fragrant'. Both names refer to the highly perfumed flowers.

Best climate:Osmanthus grows in most areas of Australia.

Uses: hedge or privacy screen garden shrub container plant cut flowers for indoor decoration in China the flowers are used to scent tea

Good points: fragrant flowers attractive, glossy foliage grows in a range of climates hardy

Downside: fairly slow growing more open growth habit than other hedging species

Care:

Grow osmanthus in sun or part shade. It likes a well-drained soil enriched with organic matter, such as compost or manure. Prune after flowering to maintain a compact shape.

Getting started:

Osmanthus is readily available at nurseries and garden centres. Prices for 140mm (7") pots, $9.00 and a 200mm (8") pot, $15.00.

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