Osmanthus fragrans - Fragrant Tea Olive

In this video I talk about Osmanthus fragrans (Fragrant Tea Olive). It is an evergreen large growing shrub or small tree with white fragrant flowers in the fall and spring. I will cover other varieties with different flowers colors soon.
Consultations Available - www.horttube.c...
HortTube with Jim Putnam - / @jimputnam
Channel Membership - horttube.teach...
Horttube,com

[@NC_SUGAR]

I have 10 of these. I planted 9 to form a hedge row as a noise barrier at the front of my property. I also planted 1 in front of my house as a kinda walkway/ entry plant. The entry plant I sort of shaped to look like a ficus tree. I took off all new sprounts as the came on the trunk to form new growth. I left about 6 or 8 main branches off the main single trunk and they're up kinda high. I looks like a ficus tree. It's now about 14 feet tall. The 9 at the road are let grow like hedge shrubs and are full and thick and all grown together like a 14 foot tall solid hedge tow. They are about 10 years old. Mine seem to bloom twice a year. Once in the late spring and once in early autumn or very late summer. Their beautiful scent can be smelled for blocks! If I open my windows my house smells wonderful of tea olive. I am in zone 7b I believe. Some evenings when they're in bloom I absolutely have to sit outside. I want to take in their fragrance as much as I can. They are the pride and joy of my property.

[@sandramcdaniel2]

Well done 👍🏻

[@drorshamiramargea3901]

LOVE them!! ❤️

[@MeanOldLady]

I used to have a couple flanking my back door, then I had to move away, out of that growing zone. I miss them so much!

[@YSZhou]

Where do you buy it? Which state is it? Thansk

[@takopiii]

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

[@modernwize]

i have 15 of these in Charlotte, NC. They grew from 2ft to 8ft in 3 years.

[@Pondscapes]

I’m getting some for my garden

[@marysmith9361]

Coming to Ga from New England, I never heard of this shrub. The house we bought has several Tea Olive shrubs and the smell is wonderful. My husband cannot smell them, which is a shame.

[@susanbaker2796]

A Tea Olive hedge would be a great addition along a driveway so when people come and go they could swoon over the scent. Love Osmanthus!

[@drorshamiramargea3901]

EXACTLY what I was planning to do!! ❤️

[@CammedFox]

I have 5 of these planted along my pool on a retaining and we just got through a blossom. Mine are about 6-8 ft tall and the smell of my yard was absolutely amazing. I could smell them from the driveway. Can't wait for them to grow into a nice privacy screen about 14-15 ft tall. I am in Canton, GA zone 7b and mine are extremely happy!

[@feleciawallace8420]

I live Marietta GA... my tea olive trees losing all leaves since we artic freeze, are you suffering the same problem?

[@CammedFox]

@@feleciawallace8420 yes I am. Mine all turned brown and looked terrible immediately after the crazy freeze. I've since lost all my leaves too. I read that they should come back in the spring but I don't know for sure. For now they look dead. Very bummed out, even if they do come back I am going to lose a lot of growth time towards my privacy

[@ladyela9283]

I'm in 8A in GA, and mine is still in a pot, blooming and sending off this incredible scent - oh, I love it! I need to put it in the ground, and then i need to buys more or porpagate the one I have. What an delicious smell - oh my gosh.

[@CammedFox]

@ladyela9283 mine are all recovered from the freeze and looking incredible. Flowering now and I can smell them from the street.

[@APR1037]

I had several tea olives when I used to live in the Raleigh area. They were a little slow to take but when they took off, they took off. The scent was unbelievable! I wish I could grow them here in the mountains.

[@greenrockgarden2851]

I love these! I had four Cypress trees removed, and replaced them with Tea Olives. It has grown over a foot in just a few months.

[@tangents6299]

What are you using? I had 20 planted around our front yard and they've hardly grown at all since 2020. I admit I've not mulched or fertilized. What type of mulch do you think is good?

[@gardenimperfectplants]

Osmocote, red cedar mulch is fine, true decompose granite is also good, aged chicken manure, or ground cover plants. @@tangents6299

[@brittneymckee4114]

I planted two last year! No flowers the first year but I can’t wait for this spring! One of my favorite fragrant plants!

[@jenniferblevins5023]

I was introduced to this plant by a classmate in a plant id course at Forsyth Tech. She had a beautiful garden and cited this as one of her favorites.

[@cynthiacisneros1694]

This will be like an encyclopedia of plants…I’m in❣️

[@stephanycoakley7352]

Exactly!

[@ninijo1234]

You can make jellies from the flowers or just nice stepped herbal tea.

[@judidozier]

I’ve got a huge one in my front side yard! Love the scent!

[@cynthiabercaw3462]

Oh how I wish I could grow Fragrant Tea Olives in my area. Alas, I garden in northern Kentucky zone 6A. Nice video and I'm excited about your new channel.

[@fattyslim96]

I’m right there with you Cynthia! Wish we could reliably have them in 6b!

[@mathological3540]

I keep forgetting that you can limb up plants and that is a great idea for this! Thanks for showing that limbed up picture in your video as it gives us the idea that this plant is more versatile in the garden than just an upright vertical element. This is great!

[@kathryntornatore4573]

I plan my gardens around scent and flowers. I've had this on my shopping list for a while. Just need to find a small enough version

[@websurfer5772]

Nice video. I just bought some Osmanthus fragrance oil and it smells like Summertime ~ "the livin's easy". 🌼

[@sandysimpson878]

Just planted 4 of these this fall. Can’t wait until they bloom. Love their scent

[@mercedesmcvey1776]

I live in Phoenix Arizona; haven't seen this growing here. I'd love to try it. Great video.

[@andrewjbernius]

I currently have a Apricot Echo, a Fodingzhu, and a San Jose in Zone 7B Marlyand. The Echo has taken the most winter damage but bounces back. The Fodingzhu has taken slight winter damage and no damage to report on the San Jose. Really enjoying all three of these.

[@christinemcmains3895]

These would be amazing to have. I wish I had room for them in my yard.

[@jcrane45585]

My favorite plant in my yard

[@boysrus2]

I bought one of these last year after learning about it on your channel. It’s a great plant. Mine has been living in a large container.

[@carolynnelson4454]

Good to know not to put these on an unprotected hillside in zone 7. Saved me from making an expensive and time consuming mistake.

[@luzelenaibarra2314]

Que es la zona 7?

[@silvering14]

I love that you push the zone on so many plants, makes me want to try on some of them too!

[@orchidgarden3124]

Wish I could grow this in Michigan!

[@bertildatolentino27]

Wow, love that it can tolerate drought.

[@shervegas]

This is a very delightful fragrant tree .

[@gracem6795]

GA State Garden has some with bright orange flowers, I would say than the tea olive with white flowers is more fragrant

[@sweetdudeword]

I love the smell of osmanthus! My neighbors in Durham had some, but now that we have moved I don’t get the lovely aroma. I need to find a place to plant one at our new home.

[@jennifernash4638]

I put 3 of these in this fall and I am excited to see how they do! I didn't intend them for the spot the ended up in, but now that they're there, I realized they are exactly what was needed along the side of my driveway for some screening that won't encroach on the overhead power lines. (Unlike my crepe myrtles, which I want to pull but dread the task given how much they like to live.)

[@oweznero]

Osmanthus fragrance smells the same as ever…..but where are those who shared the memory

[@rrman2party]

Love the new channel. Keep ‘em coming! And despite ur advice I have notifications ON.

[@ElizabethM824]

Love your new channel idea. A video idea that would help me would be screening plants that can grow in boggy areas but look beautiful. I have an area that's bone dry in summer and a little soggy in winter. I have done what I can to improve the drainage but it's still a little boggy for a few days when we get a lot of fall and winter rain. It dries up well though. Zone 8B. Thanks.

[@bjschofied1]

Mine is blooming like crazy during the second year and the scent about stops me in my tracks. Zone 9B and I want to plant in the front but my house faces west and there is no protection from the evening sun.

[@MattMurrah]

I've tried Osmanthus fragrans in my DFW Texas garden and have not seen much growth at all (less than 3" in 1.5 years). I'm hoping it'll take off this spring. TBD...

[@testingoyay4648]

any luck? thinking of getting some

[@dianesimon9470]

I would like to keep my tea olive somewhat small. I would appreciate a pruning video for this plant and the sunshine ligustrum.

[@heaventoearthllc]

I can't handle the fragrance, but thanks for the video!

[@carolhutchison7247]

Thanks for this video! I have several tea olives scattered thru the edge of my backyard woods that a landscaper put in. You've given me ideas for shaping them and it is very helpful to know when I should prune these.

[@lulubell711]

I'm in 7b🤞🤞and planted 2 in a protected area in spring 2021.

[@sherryj2]

I have been curious about these. Thank you!

[@marct2168]

Great video Jim. Have three of these between me and my neighbor and they are great.

[@tshockmom69]

I strategically installed near my deck so I could enjoy their scent. I found a candle maker on Etsy that makes candles in their scent. Awesome. Last year I limbed them up so I could put some coral bells and Jack Frost under them. Do you know of a dwarf version?

[@marythomson3229]

Love the detail on this channel. I’m now subscribed to it also. 👍

[@judybingham2333]

Another very informative video. I'm enjoying your new channel. I'm going to consider adding this plant to my yard.

[@kathrynmettelka7216]

Love the concept of having a channel with separate videos on specific plants. Subscribed.

[@kimberlybassett1359]

Have three for screening but they have not grown much. Less than a foot in four years. They are planted in full sun and on drip irrigation. I’m in Charlotte, NC. Any thoughts?

[@NC_SUGAR]

I'm in Matthews. I have about 10 of these. It took them about 5 years it seems to really get established and take off but now they grow pretty fast. They were so worth the wait!

[@katiekane5247]

My favorite fragrance! Going to add one of these soon as I can!

[@zeroibis]

Any dwarf variety, would be great to get that scent in a smaller package.

[@sandhyahira4970]

I will have to add it to my landscape as a screening plant.

[@melissamckenzie4279]

I live in TN, zone 7a, but having heard you talk about these plants on so many of your videos I really wanted to try them despite being a zone off. I have them in what I consider to be a pretty protected area, but is there anything special I need to be doing to help them survive the winter?

[@SheriShea1]

Short, sweet and to the point! Nice channel 👍

[@laurablanchard9414]

I love this channel and your videos on specific plants. Absolutely awesome!! We live in zone 7b also. I would like to use one of these Osmanthus Fragrans as a specimen tree on the front corner of our SE facing house where it would receive morning sun and afternoon shade. Can you advise me on how far out from the foundation to plant it? A video demonstrating limbing up to make a tree form would also be much appreciated. Thank you!!

[@graylagran7443]

they look wonderful as smallish trees! that's a great idea.

[@johnmorris7302]

Hey Jim how about some plants for wet shady areas. PS also deer resistant.

[@stephaniejohnson2937]

I need this plant in my garden!!! Thanks for the info to help with placement

[@jasminelouisefarrall]

Beautiful plant Jim

[@LULC0759]

That’s a great screen plant.

[@orrinrobbins2644]

The tiny flowers attract tiny pollinators.

[@CB-sr8ee]

Lovely plant!

[@falconeranatolia]

Which Osmanthus species is the most fragrant? ie Osmanthus Tea Olive, Osmanthus Fragrans "Sweet Osmanthus", Osmanthus burkwoodii "Burkwood Osmanthus", Osmanthus delavayi "Heaven Scent", Osmanthus delavayi "Pearly Gates" etc.

[@jordynekrumroy1738]

Another great video!

[@jonphilpsr8141]

Excellent!

[@mariebarnes416]

My favorite!

[@jimgreyard6623]

Jim - thanks! Am new to the tea olive we planted a couple of years ago. We are south of Charlotte so near your zone. So I should prune and fertilize about April? What is okay for fertilizer - Plantone or Hollytone ?

[@thistooiseds3215]

I have been wondering about this plant. Thx

[@jewelzhang3745]

Mine has got some browning on the tip of the leaves, and of course a little more in the currently winter time, wondering that’s normal?

[@gardenplantswithjimputnam8653]

Yes it will grow out of it quick in the spring

[@ZTrinite]

How much shade is too much for these?

[@chriscoogan2736]

We put one in the ground a few years ago. It’s finally starting to take off. We intend to transplant our LSU purple fig tree and Italian Honey Fig tree in the same bed, 4ft apart from each other and from the tea olive. Would you consider that to be sufficient?

[@tshockmom69]

I love my tea olives. Last month during the deep freeze, mine lost all their leaves. Will they recover?

[@markwhatley1478]

Same at my house in middle Tennessee. Looks dead to me, but I'm leaving it for now.

[@AnaAndreaXoxo]

I'd love to know this also.

[@lindavan5330]

You've got me intrigued to go out and find one so I can see how it smells!...Wait, can you actually see how something smells????

[@lyceum4177]

​​@@tebelshaw9486 I LOVE tea olive's scent! Im sitting on a patio beside pond and a large tea olive is filled with small flowers emanating the most delicious aroma:)

[@thogue5]

I think I just might have a spot for one of those:-)

[@Patty-qd1lz]

Do birds go to those trees to hide or nest?

[@larryhibbert2480]

Good possibility for addition

[@TaLeng2023]

Would they grow in tropical climates?

[@elliesadie7703]

Do you think these could be planted in a block wall planter without the roots damaging the block wall? I am looking to grow something that will grow tall as a privacy hedge but have block wall planters on my yard border 40'x2.5'x3.5'. Any suggestions? I live in zone 10 on Pacific coast (mediterranean weather) where everything grows if watered.

[@tracybolger1285]

Amazing smell

[@danaburt4421]

Planted one this past fall, currently only 4-5 foot tall. I am interested in tree forming it as it gets bigger. Can you please give some advice on how/at what size to begin this? Thanks for the videos & advice, they have been a great help!

[@stephanycoakley7352]

Jim has several videos on tree forming on horttube channel. Have fun!

[@viperbite8930]

Do you know whether or not this tree attracts hummingbirds, and or bees?

[@geriannroth449]

How do you propagate it from seeds do I soak first or plant directly in nursery pots?

[@geriannroth449]

What would they thrive in the Caribbean?

[@grundlecheese6675]

Do they have invasive potential?

[@gate_way_10]

Hi Jim, I’ve tried several times to propagate these with ZERO success. Do you you have any advice? I’m about to attempt to do some air layering. I’m in zone 8a.

[@feleciawallace8420]

The recent December 2022 - Artic Blast freeze may have killed my 22-year-old Tea Olive trees here in zone 7b Marietta, Georgia... all leaves have fallen off which have never happened since they were planted. Anybody with the same problem? Please advise, thanks.

[@lyceum4177]

Did they make it?

[@DaVinci57]

can you use the leaf to make tea?

[@sklee1644]

Where can I buy these flower trees? I bought three from home deport. They all died.

[@luzelenaibarra2314]

Amazon

[@menogenfang4351]

wow you are in Raleigh?where is your nursery?

[@mmm-fe1zy]

I am from Kashmir. The winters go as low as -5 degrees and summers as high as 36 degrees Will they survive winter?

[@stephanycoakley7352]

I doubt it honestly. Sorry

[@shelvymaya4001]

Will it bloom in tropical climate?

[@Jack-er6wi]

Could it be kept at 5’ tall?

[@mkho0505]

is it possible to keep them small?

[@paigeburton8995]

Oh man I'm zone 6. 😥

[@pamelacorsi]

Please feature some plants that can grow in zones 5 or 6!

[@cynthiacisneros1694]

🥰

[@dorindajenkins7825]

👋😃

[@thuNguyen-dp4be]

Where can I get The tree ?

[@luzelenaibarra2314]

Amazon

[@heaventoearthllc]

I can't handle the fragrance, but thanks for the video!

[@tebelshaw9486]

I agree. I made the mistake of planting them next to my sliding glass door. Bad idea. Phew!! 😳