Osmanthus armatus
Armed devil's wood
- Height × spread
- 4m × 4m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Flowers
- Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This makes a handsome large and dense shrub. The leaves are elliptic, rigid and have tiny hooked, spiny teeth along their length. They bear a resemblance to some holly leaves. This shrub produces small, sweetly scented, white flowers in autumn. It enjoys a site in light, dappled shade, but tolerates sun or deeper shade in any reasonable well drained soil. This reaches around 4m (13ft) height and spread.
- Flower colour
- White
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Fruit colour
- Violet
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes, sweet-vanilla
- Shape
- Round
- Height
- 4m
- Spread
- 4m
- Height in 10 years
- 2m
- Spread in 10 years
- 2m
- Season of interest
- Autumn
- Flowers in
- Autumn
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Scented garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, likes part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Wall cover, Structural
- Walls
- East, West facing
- Deer
- May be nibbled by deer in winter
- Hazards
- Yes, leaves are prickly
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during dry periods
For plants in the ground, when there has been little or no rain for a period of 7-10 days and the soil is dry, give it a deep watering and repeat weekly until there is a downpour of rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Spring - mid-late · Planting
Trim the plant
Trim the plant to give it a general tidy. This includes removing any lengthy or awkward shoots that make the plant look visually less attractive. Remove any spent flower heads at the same time.
Planting & general
Outdoor planting · Planting
Add root growth stimulant to the planting hole
Mycorrhizal fungi helps roots establish quickly, so they absorb water and nutrients more efficiently. It comes as a powder, granule or gel. Add to the planting hole or container, and to the plant's rootball before planting in the hole. For "bareroot" plants use a gel.
Found in
More Osmanthus
Osmanthus delavayi
Delavay tea olive
Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Goshiki'
Holly olive, False holly, Holly tea olive
Osmanthus x burkwoodii
Burkwood's sweet olive
Osmanthus
Devil's wood, Sweet olive, Chinese holly
Osmanthus decorus
Ornamental tea olive
Osmanthus heterophyllus
Holly olive, False holly, Holly tea olive
Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Aureomarginatus'
Holly olive, False holly, Holly tea olive
Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Gulftide'
Holly olive, False holly, Holly tea olive