Tea Olive Shrubs for the Southeast

When autumn is in the air, so is the fragrance of tea olive flowers

Ifmagnolia(Magnolia grandiflora , Zones 7–9 ) and gardenia ( Gardenia jasminoides , Zones 8–11 ) are the iconicplant perfumesof Southern summer , Camellia sinensis olive ( Osmanthusspp . and cvs . , Zones 6–11 ) breezes in to take over that role in decline . pay heed out near a tea Olea europaea in efflorescence and I guarantee you ’ll overhear a few passersby wondering , “ What ’s that awe-inspiring smell ? ” Ironically , all three of these are Asian plant , but to us they ’re as Southern as sweettea . Just as there is an occasional Southerner who eschews that drinkable , there is a small subset of tribe who ca n’t take the weighting of teatime European olive tree ’s sweet , apricotlike fragrance . I learned this the hard way when I once presented a likely boyfriend with a bouquet of cut and get the response , “ It smells like a funeral front room . ” I wilt , but my affection for the plant only take away a abbreviated bang .

Since then it has grow substantially as I ’ve mystify to know many metal money and cultivar of tea olive . They have much more to offer than just a block off - you - in - your - tracks seasonal scent . All areevergreen shrubs(many can be aim into tree - form ) , are practically pest free , and tend to be passed over by deer . In full sun to partial shadowiness with decent drainage and even moisture , they will farm at a prissy cartridge holder . Tea olives thrive in our red-hot and humid Southeastern atmospheric condition , and they suffer drought and mostclay grunge . inhuman hardiness varies from Zone 6 to Zone 8 .

Fragrant tea olive(O. fragrans , Zones 8–11 ) , also call sweet-flavored olive , is — no surprisal — the most fragrant of all teatime Olea europaea and prime for the most extended period of sentence . Ted Stephens ofNurseries Carolinianain North Augusta , South Carolina , cleverly observes that they bloom “ in every month with an radius in it , ” although this is unfeigned most to a great extent in October and November . This is the least inhuman hardy metal money — most selection are hardy to Zone 8 , with a few forms hardy into Zone 7 . The powerfully fragrant blooms range from white to cream , yellow , or orangish but are often obscure by the delicately toothed to shine - edged leaves . Two pick put on a visual , as well as olfactory show : ‘ Fodingzhu ’ and Orange River - flowering tea European olive tree ( O. fragransf.aurantiacus , Zones 7–11).The cultivar ‘ Fodingzhu ’ is a bloom beast . The rounded clusters of creamy flowers extend the stem turn in fall , almost obscuring the foliation . Orange - flowering tea Olea europaea may blend into the background all summertime but will take your attention when it comes alive with lustrous , clear orange flower clusters in declivity . It is more cold hardy than the species , extending into Zone 7 . Fragrant tea European olive tree typically grows to about 15 foot in the Piedmont and up to 25 feet at the glide , but it responds well to pruning .

False holly(O. heterophyllus , Zones 6–9 ) , also called holly teatime olive , is one of the most cold - hardy mintage . Its clump of little flush occur only in fall and are fragrant at close kitchen stove . Younger specimens carry prominentlyspiky leaf , hence the holly reference . As the bush matures , more and more leaves convert form , becoming smooth - margined . At mature height ( 8 to 15 feet ) , most leaves are smooth . Cultivars burst within this species , especially 1 with outstanding foliage variations such as ‘ Goshiki ’ , ‘ Rotudifolius ’ , ‘ Sasaba ’ , and ‘ Variegatus ’ . ‘ Goshiki ’ is becoming a go - to standard for nurseryman count for a fusillade of color in a tough little package . Its new growth swirls with tint of pink , cream , yellow , and orange . By summer , colors have shift to shades of cream and light-green but are still very striking . It has impenetrable , compact growth , get through 4 to 5 feet magniloquent and wide at adulthood . All it lacks are the typical fragrant blossom , but no one seems to be complaining !

Fortune ’s tea olive ( Osmanthus ×fortunei , Zones 7–11 ) is a loanblend between the two antecedently mentioned species . It has the vivid odour of fragrant afternoon tea European olive tree and gains increase frigid lustiness from off-key Charles Hardin Holley , making it a popular option through Zone 7 . In youth , its shiny leaves are attractively toothed , yet not as spiny as false holly , and many will stir to smoothen - margined at maturity date . While mature shrubs can touch up to 20 feet tall , they respond well to significant pruning and can be kept down to one - third of that height . The two most common cultivar are ‘ San Jose ’ and ‘ Fruitlandii ’ , both bear white-hot bloom clustering in October .

Other species of tea leaf olive , such as delavey tea European olive tree ( O. delavayi , Zones 7–10 ) and burkwood tea olive ( Osmanthus × burkwoodii , Zones 6–9 ) , with their early spring prime and odorous but light bouquet , are deserving explore as well . And for our friends in the insensate parts of Zone 6 , toothed sweet European olive tree ( O. armatus , Zones 6–9 ) , with its striking elongated leaves , is considered the most inhuman hardy of the fragrant autumn bloomers .

— Paula Gross is the former adjunct music director of theUniversity of North Carolina at Charlotte Botanical Gardens .

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