Holly osmanthus, false holly and holly tea olive are just a few of the common names attached to this fragrant shrubby member of the olive family. As I mentioned in the BPotD entry on Osmanthus suavis, the genus has a reputation for sweet fragrance; indeed, the word Osmanthus is derived from the Greek osme, meaning fragrance, and anthos, meaning flowers.
Osmanthus, however, is not the only fragrant genus in the family. Other members of the Oleaceae known for their scent include Syringa (lilacs), Chionanthus (fringetrees), Jasminum (jasmines) and Ligustrum (privets).
Photography resource link: For inspiration, the incomparable photography of Mike Moats.
Osmanthus heterophyllus - Z6, RHS Index of Garden Plants, Griffiths
Hi
Wondering about identification: specimen shown has orange flowers.
Regards,
Ron B
Well, I wouldn't exactly call them orange - perhaps cream. Still, as you allude, the flowers should be white. I'm going off the label information for this Lohbrunner-sourced plant, but label (and related) data isn't always perfect. I'll make sure Douglas (the Curator of Collections at UBC BG) has a look.
I don't know if this is relevant to the above query about flower color, but I have a privet hedge in my garden (exact species unknown) and the flowers start out white then turn yellowish, even orange, as they fade.
Is this plant available for retail anywhere in BC? I know that it is not hardy in our climate but it may be grown as a house plant.. I'd appreciate any help with this.. thank you
Sorry I took so long to approve your comment, Chyril. As a zone 6 plant, it is hardy through most of the Lower Mainland and Vanc. Island, as well as the Okanagan. Someone with more horticultural knowledge will need to comment regarding its general availability, though.
Do the creamy flowers suggest that this is better relegated to Osmanthus x fortunei (O. fragrans x O. heterophyllus)? Our specimens are all derived from the nursery of E.H. Lohbrunner in Victoria, BC, before 1978; i.e., they were all from vegetative material (cuttings).
I saw some O. x fortunei 'San Jose' in a garden center here this week.
http://www.arthurleej.com/p-o-m-Dec01.html
After the punitive 1990 winter I noticed local O. heterophyllus were not bothered by it - unlike many other broadleaf evergreens (and even some conifers, such as coast redwood).