How to grow Fragrant Tea Olive - Osmanthus Fragrans - Guìhuā

The products I use - kit.com/HortTube
This video is a detailed description of Fragrant Tea Olive. Fragrant Tea Olive is a Chinese native shrub that gets wonderfully scented flowers in the fall and spring. It is an evergreen shrub that gets very tall and is best used as a screening plant. It is also known as Osmanthus Fragrans or in Chinese guìhuā.
Fragrant Tea Olive
Osmanthus fragrans
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30 Allen Rd. Clayton, NC 27520

[@orbitsforblinks9622]

"Osmanthus wine tastes the same as i remember... But where are those who share the memory"

[@JLitodiaz]

Thank you sir! Great Video!...I have clay soil...(Just removed about 2 tons of front garden bed). I am planning to plant this in a corner around some Golden lace junipers....

[@JimPutnam]

It's a great plant. Really doesn't mind clay soil.

[@serenabaker2516]

can you tell me if I have a tea Olivie tree

[@CSFAV]

This is probably THE most popular plant in China. The flowers are insanely fragrant!!!

[@bigchungus2667]

Osmanthus wine tastes the same as I remember, but where are those who share the memory? -some old broke geezer probably

[@bethytamayo8016]

Is it Zhongli approved?

[@xenogaming4321]

Osmanthus wine tastes the same as I remember...

[@Taydrum]

These literally smell so intoxicatingly good

[@strelitziapete9071]

It is an amazing smell, one of the best fragrant plants, as good as Murraya its hard to describe it. I think alot of people dont know about it , its underrated as theyre not spectacular though the holly leaved forms are nice

[@jzwilliams202]

Strelitzia Pete r tree red

[@1111atreides]

I have a large back yard and a small tea olive and I ALWAYS know when it's blooming. Almost magical how this plant perfumes the air. Think creamy nectarine.

[@Kernviter]

Osmanthus wine tastes the same as I remember...but where are those who share the memory...

[@joditripp7003]

Mine smells like an heirloom rose, AMAZING smell!

[@gaboy3826]

slow grower huh, well i'll see if i can't get it to grow faster by adding some horse manure to the hole i dig, because everytime i use horse manure it makes whatever is near it get super huge, so we'll see about that one

[@rashidafurniturewalla985]

GA BOY How did the horse manure work out for you?

[@celtichongy]

Another good video Jim. See a lot of this tea olive in Hong Kong parks and other Asian cities. Wonderful scent.

[@strelitziapete9071]

I smelt it outside the botanic gardens in Melbourne, it was amazing it was like "whats that awesome sweet smell?" then I saw the Osmanthus.

[@melissa3353]

I'm in taiwan, and these are very common. I have 5 potted 桂花. I love them. Love the smell. Because its sooooo hot here, I need to water frequently otherwise they dry quickly and leave brown on the tips. When I first got them, I didn't know they needed as much water here as they did and almost lost the 2 pots I started with.

[@liualex9329]

Maybe you can change the soil in your pot to something that better contains the water? I’m from Taiwan but live in Dallas Texas! Just got myself to pot and going to plant them tomorrow!!!!

[@yhliu6083]

May I ask how big the pot needs to be for osmanthus?

[@putiwang7679]

I finally found one and bought right away today, it's Feb, the small flowers smell so good. Is the flower edible? I think you can use them in desert.

[@debramonroe2320]

Brown tips on leaves means overwatering, root rot.

[@stefkadank-derpjr1453]

Amen....in Georgia, my plant gets about 6 hours of direct Summer sun....and he is rocking and rolling. He is now 5 years old....I only watered and fertilized him when I transplanted as a cutting at year 2. I have never watered or fed again. (LOL) We had a 6 week and no rain run this summer, and it didn't bother him at all.

[@tangents6299]

planted 20 around outskirts of front yard, but in the fall, and they've hardly grown at all. I've not mulched them either. Any suggestions to get them going?

[@Ellie-yx8ni]

This video inspired me to get one of these for my yard. The smell really is wonderful. Thanks Jim. :)

[@maryhilton1558]

Very informative, covering everything about shrub/tree. Thanks I got very uncomfortable watching you holding on to container, shifting back and forth from one hand to the other with help from leg. Don't you have a small table or place on ground and squat beside.

[@mtafli1]

My same thoughts. I couldn’t stop watching him juggle it. Still good info, Jim!

[@iartistdotme]

Do deer enjoy eating this?

[@dylans8753]

I've only seen it once, which was in North Carolina. A wealthy family bought a tree from China half a century ago and it was about 2 stories tall when I visited that mansion in 2019. It was the most pleasant scent I'd ever smelled in my life. I wish they would grow it in New York.

[@stefkadank-derpjr1453]

I'm in the South, but I went to college in New York. This plant is special because it can perfume a whole yard, and its smell is fresh, unique, and not overpowering that said....my son has grown up with figs and peaches but saw his first apple growing on a tree up North when he was 16. We can "kind" of grow certain apples in the North Georgia mountains, but they really are not that great for just eating. Also, count your blessings....I was really grown before I smelled lilac.. incredible. My children are grown, and they have never smelled a lilac. They DO NOT grow here.😢

[@kichiguy3827]

You can grow them inside 🫶

[@sklee1644]

Thanks for sharing. Why are my tea olive leaves getting yellow and falling from the bottom?

[@marymann4126]

I have these planted around the outside of my barn because they are non toxic to horses.

[@lionkellyng]

Can you grow a tea olive plant in a container and keep pruning it to control its size? I don't have a lot of room on my balcony to let to grow into a big tree.

[@CreativeLifeDesign]

I've had a few potted ones that did well, until I moved. Make sure the pot is big they grow pretty fast for me.

[@JColopy]

I'm looking at tea olive for screening that would be near or over top of a septic leach field. My local garden store said these shrubs have shallow roots and would be okay to plant. Based on your assessment of appropriate soil & water content, do you think these plans would do well near septic? I'm specifically looking at the orange and yellow flowering varieties. Thanks!

[@sandiepetersonsellsraleigh]

I love my tea olive although I would suggest you call a septic company to ask them. In my business I use them often and they would be more than happy to talk with you.

[@josephineswenson8891]

Oh dear. Leave the bush on the ground when you are talking .

[@orgi8841]

How deep should I plant it under the ground and do I need to plant it with that plastic bucket? Tia I already liked it and subscribed

[@MG-bq1uk]

Thanks for the tips! I'm excited! I ordered one today with orange flowers. Zone 8. I'm going to plant 2 on both sides of my Golden Rain Tree and small naturally round evergreen shrubs. I need privacy from a very noisy neighbor. It's going to look beautiful... nice view instead of my noisy neighbors standing at their porch looking at me as I am minding my own business. I'm also considering 2 or 3 Blue Point Junipers for more screening on my corner lot.

[@highstandards6226]

if kept in a large enough pot, in a very sunny window, can this be grown as a houseplant? TIA

[@kellykittinger5969]

Did you ever find out? I'm wondering the same

[@GUESSMYZAIS]

That’s what I was hoping to find out...

[@JoshuaCookLibertyIsRising]

How many feet apart should one plant these for a privacy screen?

[@twoyello]

I am looking to plant these in NC, zone 7 but not sure if it's 7a. I wanted to use them to thicken the screen I have between me and a neighbor that is currently made with decent sized pines that aren't real thick. Would these grow very well right in line with those pines or would they stay small because of the competition with the larger trees? Thanks!

[@JimPutnam]

+Ben S They would compete fine, but they will get burned in the winter in zone 7 if they are out in the wind.

[@MrCgcaldwell]

Hey Jim I want to plant a few of these along a fence as a screen. How far off the fence, and apart, should I plant them so that its not hanging over into their yard?

[@bethann6416]

Your comment shows from 3 years ago so I’m curious if you’ve done this yet and what the outcome has been. I would like to do the same in our back yard. He did say they are slow growing though so wondering how quickly it turns into a “screen” from the neighbors.

[@elliesadie7703]

Sorry I have to say, I wished you wouldn't hold these plants in your video and just put them on a table. It's so distracting that you look like you are struggling with it while talking. IMO. Other than that, thank you for the info.

[@rachelhammond353]

Thank you for the great information! I'm considering a tea olive as a screen between us and our neighbors.

[@JimPutnam]

Good luck with them

[@anthonyrogers24]

My sweet olive shrubs got a bunch of Florida Red Scale type pests on them. Are you familiar with this?

[@narmislien]

Can you pls recommend a good soil ph meter under $30? Thanks

[@rachelhu6495]

Hi Jim, so happy to watch your video about tea olive. I’m from Taiwan, tea olive is a very popular tree in my home town. 17 years ago when I became a home owner, my sister asked what I would like as a house warming gift, I requested tea olive. I think the tree is happy in my home , it had grown from just a few inches to 5 feet now. I kept it indoor since I live in Connecticut and it would not survive the cold in the winter. About 3 years ago, the leaves started turning brown, but still produces lots of flowers, new leaves grow slower now and I notice that even the tips of the baby leaves turn brown. Please advise me how to bring the health back to my beloved sweet olive. Thanks so much.

[@theresa94010]

Good to know that they can be kept indoor. How big a pot do you have it in?? and how much watering do you do? Thanks in advance. I'm from Taiwan as well by the way, now in CA.

[@empressoftheskies]

Might be a good idea to re size the pot?

[@tomsinn1767]

My plant has a leaf blight. How do I treat the blight?

[@MaryannGreene-c8k]

I've had 3 of these for 2 years and have yet to see a flower it's growing fine leaves look great but no flowers is there a reason

[@fanygarza9032]

It’s hard to describe their smell! It’s almost like lotion

[@cpetersen567]

I have three tea olives that have really shot up. How aggressively can it be pruned?

[@benher2282]

They can be pruned very aggressively. I’ve cut them in half. In Georgia

[@aek6396]

Very informative video with important details for anyone considering if and where to plant. I have had one for two years now in zone 7A and as the video said it does get some leaf burn after winter in my location in Maryland. In winter I mulch the base with about 6 or more inches of shredded leaves, then wrap the tree in row cloth. In the spring I trim off any winter burn area. I love this plant; although the flowers are small, their fragrance travels to other parts of the garden without be too strong. It has a nice light scent that gently wafts throughout the property.

[@nunyabiznes33]

Can't find anyone selling these in the Philippines. So I got aglaia instead. 🙁

[@billyjones9620]

I am in zone 8B and wondered best time to prune my tea olive plants?

[@vessaambrose221]

Hello if my tea olive is dry out does that mean its dead or its just hibernating ?

[@mollysalout]

Hi . Is tea olive the same as Fragrant Olive?

[@PapaverMediterranean]

Hi, thanks for the video. I have one and I want to propagate it. How is it normally propagated?

[@sammysworld5485]

Hi Jim. Would love to see you do more individual plant educational videos as these. I miss them.

[@suddler1630]

Would one grow in northern ohio?

[@olsonlr]

Very hard to propagate under mist. What is the secret?

[@carolbaswell5019]

My orange tea olive is the size of yours, but has never bloomed :-((

[@yhliu6083]

Mine too, I think there are male and female plants. Only female plants bear flowers?

[@HS-ce6rw]

Hi Jim...searching from something next to a concrete stamped patio...how close can I get with these? It is part (afternoon) sun...any other suggestions? Just want a touch of privacy...nice and smelly would be a bonus !

[@JimPutnam]

+H S This would not be a good choice. Maybe a Hicks yew

[@benher2282]

I have some customers that have them. In September I can smell them a house away.

[@rajshrir3000]

I have this plant with sweet fragrant orange flowers. My plant has become very tall.. around 12 feet. And the leaves and flowers show up mostly on the upper half of the plant. How do I trim it so that the height is reduced and I have flowers at a lower level? Will cutting it across horizontally, and little bit from down to reduce its span be okay?

[@theresa94010]

Good question, I would like to know the answers too. Wish Jim would reply.

[@TheMTZkids]

I have about 5 of these planted in a long bed in my side patio, but the drip system we had installed eventually crapped out and we neglected the trees and they’re pretty badly dried out (but by no means dead). I’ve wanted to have these in my backyard as well and have been thinking about transferring the 5 trees from the patio bed into the ground in the backyard. Do you think it’s ok to do this? They’re about 6 feet tall at this point but like I said the leaves are starting to burn quite a bit. Would the trees go into shock if I tried to uproot and transfer them?

[@P_Belle]

What did you do?

[@Riceandbeans7]

Thank you for sharing. I can't wait to plant tea olive in my garden.

[@JimPutnam]

Thanks for watching. Good luck with them.

[@lisawaters3155]

Mine are so tall. Can I turn it into a tree?

[@margaretpervier8357]

How to prune a tea olive?

[@chickenfarm09]

Any zone pushers growing these in 6a?

[@lisachang5513]

I was able to proergate the sweet olive plant from 2 years ago. Since I live in MD and the winter has been very cold. I had brought it in door and was hopping to plant it outside once it got bigger. I had a plastic bag over the plant last winter since it was rooting. It grew well outdoor in the summer. Now all the leaves had fallen off. I am afraid it die! The is the 3rd time it happened. Please advise!

[@P_Belle]

How is your Osmanthus doing? Which cultivar do you have?

[@mydailystitches]

Last year I planted 2 sweet olives shrubs. I was told about the wonderful sweet smell but didn’t get any flowers last year and didn’t get any this spring. I live in lower Alabama. They are planted in the front of my house which faces east so they get direct morning sun until around 11:30 am and then have light but not direct sun. I fertilized them this spring with a slow release general fertilizer instead of the acid one you mentioned. They are each in their own single very big planter. They look good and are healthy…just no flowers. Although a few leaves did get a little frost burn.

[@TurtleMyrtle12]

Sounds like they're not getting enough sun

[@angelabluebird609]

I believe Erica is correct. Full sun means at least 6 hours of direct sun per day. Here in the South, tea olives (and other full sun plants) do well when they have some afternoon shade.Try food for acid loving plants. Hollytone is excellent.

[@geriannroth449]

How can i get seeds or cuttings for this tree or other fragrant plants I'm in Barbados. Are these trees capable of growling in the tropics which only has dry & wet seasons NO CHILL FROST OR SNOW.

[@curiouscat3384]

I planted three of these (Greensboro, NC zone 7b) along my West privacy fence where they get about 8-10 hrs of sun per day and they're getting tall but a bit scraggly. I've done very little pruning but now, I wonder if I could transplant them to the opposite side of the property next to the East fence and I don't want to wait for baby shrubs to grow to 10 feet. I'm thinking I should root prune them now (September 17) and maybe take off some of the height and then transplant them in Feb-Mar. Or is it too late to root prune to stimulate new feeder roots?

[@CapysGardenShop]

Your video is so helpful I’m watching it again! Only weeks later! 😂 Mine arrived from Home Depot w/ some white spots on leaves. I suppose I need to neem oil spray it….

[@sandrabrandon9002]

Will deer eat the sweet olive tree?

[@tonyfc8809]

+HortTube with Jim Putnam Can you grow it in a pot to have it on a deck?

[@tonyfc8809]

+HortTubewithJimPunam zone 9

[@olsonlr]

Have you tried Chimonanthus Praecox? THE BEST winter fragrant bloomer!!!!

[@kevinl12688]

Anyone know would these be bad for foundation if I planted close to the house? Thinking about taking out my Japanese Holly (which I hate) that is planted about 2.5 to 3 foot in front my windows. I know these will grow tall, and I don’t mind. Just don’t want to damage my house foundation, I can’t seem to find any information does these roots do any damage.

[@tetyanacrute106]

I have planted these beautiful shrubs along my property line about 10 years ago they grow pretty slow because it’s rather dry during summers in East Coast area. I want to plant more, can’t find the plants at Lowe’s or Home Depot as before. The prices for tiny plants on Amazon are too high, any suggestions where to find reasonable priced olive plants?

[@JimPutnam]

I don't know where you are located, but I would call every nursery in your area. Some of the wholesale nurseries will sell to anyone who comes in.

[@tetyanacrute106]

HortTube with Jim Putnam Thank you, I am working on it.

[@P_Belle]

Lowes has them this season. I saw O.Fragrans. Colesville Nursery has abundant inventory, and keeps it updated online.

[@fragaflores]

I’d like to see Osmanthus fragrans growing in some landscapes. Thanks for the informative video.

[@stevesr4802]

Just planted an Osmanthus and afraid it may be catching a mold or blackspot from nearby Honeysuckle. Suggestions for treatment? Thank you, Steve

[@LarryHatch]

What cultivar are you growing? The Chinese have over a hundred of them The Raulston Arboretum has some amazing orange and yellow-flowered clones which make the ordinary white-flowered stuff look boring.

[@hmarie2494]

This is my favorite smell! So incredibly sweet and light.

[@janeives6651]

Our tea olive has been hidden behind another shrub and it’s now June. Should we trim off dead branches or just leave? We want it to fill in.

[@w.z.6062]

This is 桂花, and its sweet smell reminds me of the Chinese moon festival in the fall. I love it! Just planted 4 in my backyard. Great video! Thank you!

[@katrinaburton5122]

Hi Jim, Thanks so much for the video, it was great. My tea olive doesn’t have a lot of flowers and they all seem to be at the bottom. What can I do? It was not fertilized in the spring. Could this be the issue?

[@jsh-oq4sf]

How far from a back fence should I plant a row of treats olives for privacy. I have a 125 foot fence across my back yard that I want to plant them in front of. Thanks.

[@biancabao857]

Hi Jim, the leaves on my osmanthus are charred at the tip, then the leaves drop stripping the tree bare. What is going on and what should I do? I am in 10a, they are in half sun with regular water. Clay soil. Please help. Thank you so much.

[@shanecampbell2366]

I planted one in my backyard here in FL zone 10a about 8 years ago. It’s still less than 5 feet tall and looks a bit puny. I can send pics so you can see it. But my question is… how can I encourage more growth for height as well fullness?

[@Tara-sf7uu]

The flowers from these make the most wonderful teas! Now I know why mine has struggled a bit, too much full sun

[@brendamitchell5057]

You can actually make tea from these? Please share details.

[@theresa94010]

@@brendamitchell5057 = Just the flowers, not leaves. Dry the flowers first. Chinese use them in a lot of desserts as well for its aroma.

[@karenpentek8418]

Hi Jim, I am having some Tea Olive plants installed by the landscaper, however there are three that have very few leaves which are mostly at the bottom and midway to the top o the plant is woody. I really don’t love the look. He assured me they will flush new growth and leaves, but they are just being put in... should I ask for healthier ones? Or are these healthy and will they grow? Thank you! Karen

[@chengt2236]

Is it deer resistant?

[@kristophine4390]

Super helpful! I just assumed we couldn't grow it here (bc we can't have nice things...) but I might give it a try!

[@kimolson1547]

Hi Jim. Does this make a good privacy hedge in south side morning dappled sun? I need a privacy hedge. Thank you for all the great info!

[@maggieprather5809]

My tea olive is getting brown edges on leaves and deformed leaf growth even on new growth Not very thick for the screening purposes. Planted last summer. ??

[@williamli7906]

Hi, I live in southern california and tried to grow these several times but all failed. I grow it in container with purchased palnting soil (so PH shouldn't be an issues?). I water it only when the soil is about to dry (not too much water causing root rot). I put it in corner so it gets morning and afternoon sun. Problem is the leave will begin to show brown at the tip then spread to entire leave then fall off. I tried severl they all display the same issues. What do you think the problem is? Thanks in advance.

[@aliceho9763]

This is August in California here. It seems like we made a huge mistake that we just pruned and removed some stick up branches and woody stems on the tip top that shoots up. Thanks for your video sharing!

[@rickha3216]

We have a mature healthy osmanthus fragrans that is 20 feet tall. We want to cut it back. When should we prune it?

[@heidi696969]

What is happening when half a leaf is brown? Over watering? It’s only 2 years old. In a large pot.

[@cjedmon47]

Is there any way to keep a fragrant tea olive alive in the landscape on the south side near a wall in zone 6b? Please help. I have 2 beauties. Clay soil.

[@leahlandi143]

we watered ours too much - been hot in Georgia and they turned brown. The landscaper said back off on the water.....I figured because they were newly planted they needed a lot. will they come back once we slow the water??

[@StitchAndMakeUSA]

just bought one from Home Depot. Smells so good I wish I can keep it inside

[@birdgunter4891]

How far apart should I plant these to create an eventual privacy screen? Probably 60% sun in southern Louisiana. They will be planted along the bank of a canal that borders the back of the property

[@debbiewhite4881]

I also would like to know how to prune a tea olive so that it becomes a tree. I just planted two of them and they are more like 3 1/2 foot bushes now. Should I prune off all the undergrowth and leave the five tallest shoots. If so, do I pant the cuts with something?

[@JimPutnam]

Yes, it's just a matter of slowly limbing them up over time. I would start this spring.

[@debbiewhite4881]

Do i need to paint the cuts to prevent disease?

[@JimPutnam]

No, it will heel over quickly.

[@P_Belle]

Which is faster- burning bush or tea olive? I'm framing a patio

[@tirunagariuttam]

i have these plants since 2 years, but hardly see any growth. What exactly should i do to make them grow. Live in Seattle WA?

[@robertknell6635]

How long before one can expect to see flowers? Mine is in its second spring and I’ve yet to see a flower.

[@lanefeaver4915]

Will this grow as a potted plant? live in Greenville, SC and wonder if it will survive the winters as a potted plant?? Thanks!

[@snookanookazoo3268]

Hello.I came to your sight to look for shrubs that will keep the neighbors.Lets say Bucks backyard from drifting into mine.The Back Yard isn't the biggest.The neighbors do have a nice 6 foot privacy fence and their dogs are older and don't bother me.But I was thinking of doing something with my Back yard and not knowing what goes on next door if they clean up after the dogs or leave it. I am going to start looking for shrubs and plants that smell good.Any info besides this video I just watched and will watch more.Please reply with any ideas if you would.

[@Iam-me]

The most I like about this plant no pest like it and during fall no leaves drop on floor

[@heidisteiner2044]

I planted 5 Tea Olives for privacy on the side of my back yard about 3 years ago and I am so happy with them. I have done absolutely nothing to them and they are fabulous. My question is... now that they are about 5 feet tall do I need to do anything to them to insure they are full and sturdy as they grow to full height? I'd like them to grow together more and offer even more privacy.

[@dylans8753]

Hey there, just saw this comment from 3 years ago. May I ask how are your tea olives doing now? And how tall are they?

[@melissasasse]

What growing zone are you in, if you don’t mind sharing?