Osmanthus yunnanensis
Yunnan tea olive
Also known as Osmanthus forrestii
- Height × spread
- 5m × 4m
- Position
- All conditions
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Flowers
- Winter, Spring
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This makes a large and handsome evergreen shrub or a small tree. The leaves are variable in form but are large, slender and shiny-green. They may have wavy edges, tapering to a point or they may be flat. There may be fine teeth on the leaf edges, the leaf has a yellowish central rib. They are aromatic if crushed. There are small clusters of white flowers in late winter or early spring which nestle at the leaf base. They are fragrant with a floral perfume; blue-black berries follow. This is happy in any fertile well drained soil in sunny or shady conditions. As a shrub it reaches around 5m (16ft) height with 4m (13ft) spread.
- Flower colour
- White
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Spring foliage
- Red-copper
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes, floral-jasmine
- Shape
- Bell
- Height
- 5m
- Spread
- 4m
- Height in 10 years
- 2m
- Spread in 10 years
- 2m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Winter
- Flowers in
- Winter, Spring
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Winter garden, Scented garden
- Sun or shade
- All conditions
- 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
- West, East facing
- Deer
- May be nibbled by deer in winter
- Hazards
- No
- Pet safe
- Yes – listed in our pet-safe plants
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.
Winter
Winter-Spring · Planting
Prune lightly after flowering
Give the plant a light haircut, generally tidying it up and removing any shoots that are wayward or damaged in any way. Dead flowers can be cut off if this is practical - the shrub may have too many, or they may be hard to reach.
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.
Planting
Protect & support young trees
Attach a newly planted tree or tall shrub over 1m to a tree stake to give support and prevent windrock. Use a tree guard to stop tree bark being eaten by animals, especially in areas with deer - removing bark injures a tree and in worst case can kill it.
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 armatus
Armed devil's wood
Osmanthus decorus
Ornamental tea olive
Osmanthus heterophyllus
Holly olive, False holly, Holly tea olive
Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Aureomarginatus'
Holly olive, False holly, Holly tea olive