Osmanthus (Tea Olive) Care: Sun, Water and Pruning

Osmanthus, also called tea olive, is an evergreen shrub grown for tiny flowers with an intense fragrance, and it does best in full sun to partial shade with afternoon shade in the south, in moist, well-drained soil. NC State says the flowers are small but extremely fragrant and appear in early spring and again in the fall. UF/IFAS says plants range from 4 to 30 feet tall depending on the cultivar, so the label matters. Most of the advice below describes fragrant tea olive (Osmanthus fragrans); where a source covers another species, the text says so.

Origin

Asia

Container friendly

Yes

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; afternoon shade in the south

Soil

Moist, well drained; heavy clay tolerated

Water

Drought tolerant once established

Size

4–30 ft tall, up to 8 ft wide, by cultivar (UF/IFAS)

Bloom time

Fall (fragrant tea olive); April (O. delavayi)

Prune

Minimally; after flowering for spring bloomers

Sun and shade

NC State says osmanthus grows in full sun to partial shade, and adds that in southern climates afternoon shade is a must. UF/IFAS warns that plants growing in deeper shade may become spindly. That sets the range: bright light with a break from hot afternoon sun where summers are long.

Soil and water

NC State says it prefers moist but well-drained soil and tolerates heavy clay. UF/IFAS says the plants prefer a well-drained soil and are fairly drought tolerant once established. NC State says to give supplemental water in hot, dry months. UF/IFAS also says tea olive does best in North and Central Florida, a regional note rather than a hardiness zone, as the sources do not give a USDA range.

Feeding

UF/IFAS says to use a complete fertilizer in early spring, with slow-release nitrogen preferred.

Pruning

Pruning is where the species matter, so know which one you have.

When osmanthus blooms

Clemson says fragrant tea olive blooms in fall, from late September to November, with scattered flowers through winter. It describes Delavay tea olive (Osmanthus delavayi) as one of the few spring-flowering tea olives, blooming in April. NC State says the flowers appear in early spring and again in fall. Because the sources describe the timing a little differently, expect it to shift with species, cultivar and weather. Our bloom calendar shows where fall and winter bloomers fit in the year.

Flower color and varieties

NC State says flower color depends on the cultivar: cream, yellow or orange, with several white and orange-flowered types. UF/IFAS says the species type has creamy white flowers while improved cultivars offer yellow or orange. UF/IFAS’s factsheet on Fortune’s osmanthus (‘Variegatus’) says that plant is propagated by cuttings.

Osmanthus in a pot

NC State says that in cooler climates you can grow osmanthus in a pot and overwinter it indoors.

Common osmanthus problems

Where it fits

Osmanthus is on our list of plants for a Japanese-style bed, along with camellia and azalea, in the Japanese garden plants collection. It also pairs with camellia, since both are evergreen shrubs that flower in the cooler months. For another fragrant shrub with very different needs, full sun and sharp drainage, read the lavender guide.