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sweet olive, tea olive

Osmanthus aquifolium
Osmanthus aquifolium

sweet olive, tea olive

USUAL HEIGHT and WIDTH
1-2m x 1-2m
LEAVES
evergreen broadleaf
SIZE/TYPE
medium-sized shrub		 COLOUR OF LEAVES

green
BLOOMING TIME
October - November
LOCATION
full to partial sun		 FLOWERS
less showy but noticeable
USDA zone (lowest)
6b   (down to -21°C) 		COLOUR OF FLOWERS

white
WINTER PROTECTION
for zone 5+6
Code of winter protection zone 5+6
for zone 7
Code of winter protection zone 7
 Belongs to categories
Evergreen broadleaf
SIZE and PRICES
form container size size quality price (incl. VAT) where in stock sending options quantity
NOT IN STOCK? WHY NOT TO TRY A SIMILAR ONE:
Osmanthus armatusOsmanthus armatus
Ilex aquifoliumIlex aquifolium
THE PRICES INCLUDE VAT of 9%. For quick conversion you can use 1 CZK = approx. 0.04 EUR

 



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GLOSSARY

  • STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
  • DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
  • EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
  • STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
  • SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
  • HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
  • FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
  • GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
 DESCRIPTION
Osmanthus is a genus of about 15-20, while only a few ones are hardy enough to grow down to zone 6. Those are often mistaken for hollies owing to their foliage appearance. Osmanthus is native to Japan and China, some species originate in the south of USA.

This species is my top favourite among sweet olives and one of my most loved evergreen shrubs in general. It is a mid sized plant with leathery, deep green, glossy leaves with sharply serrated margins which is why non-professionals often think they are looking at a holly. The main differences are: sweet olive has opposite leaves (hollies have alternate leaves), and sweet olive shrubs are rounded to oval while hollies usually make pyramidal forms. At the end of autumn sweet olives bear tiny white flowers with pleasantly sweet fragrance.

The shape and luxurious foliage make this plant a jewel which was given a place of honour in my garden, put right next to the Mediterranean gazebo = sweet olives are mostly cultivated in the south of Europe (Italy, France) where they perfectly decorate the typical Mediterranean architecture.

Grow sweet olive in moist but well-drained, humus rich, preferably acidic soil. It likes full sun and in zone 6 we recommend planting it where sun does not shine in winter and early spring to keep it from sun scorch if the roots linger in frozen soil for a longer period of time. If grown in full sun and some leaves are burnt after winter just remove them, the plant will soon make new ones. Pest and disease free. Reliably hardy to -20°C, with some burnt foliage down to -24°C (USDA zone 6). Choose older plants for growing in zone 6.

TIPS FOR LUXURIOUS CARE:

When it makes new shoots cut them to about one half to one third – the plant responds very well to such pruning by forming a very dense shrub without odd branches here and there.

Last update 09-12-2009