HCMGAHenderson County Master Gardener Association

Sweet Olive

Osmanthus fragrans

Sweet Olive flower and foliage
Sweet Olive tree

Characteristics

  • Type: Tree
  • Zone: 9 to 11
  • Height: 10 to 15 Feet
  • Spread: 10 to 15 Feet
  • Bloom Time: April
  • Bloom Description: White to Yellow
  • Flower: Showy, Fragrant
  • Sun: Full Sun – Part Shade
  • Water: Medium
  • Maintenance: Medium
  • Suggested Use: Flowering Tree
  • Leaf: Evergreen
  • Other: Winter Interest
  • Tolerates: Drought, Clay Soil

Culture

Sweet Olive is a small flowering tree or evergreen shrub or small tree which is ideal for hedges, screens, or landscape specimens. Winter hardy to about 10 degrees F, it’s generally considered to be plantable in the ground in USDA Zones 8b-11. In these warm winter areas, Sweet Olive is easily grown in average, consistently moist, well-drained garden soils in full sun to part shade. Best with part afternoon shade in hot summer climates. Tolerates heavy clays. Drought tolerant once established. May be trained as a small tree, shrub or espalier. Clip off growing tips to maintain compact size and to encourage bushiness. In colder areas, grow in containers which must be overwintered indoors in bright cool locations.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Osmanthus fragrans, commonly called fragrant olive, sweet olive or sweet tea, produces clusters of not particularly showy flowers that have an extremely powerful apricot fragrance. It is a small, upright, evergreen tree or large shrub that will typically grow to 10-15’ tall in cultivation, but may reach 20-30’ tall in its native habitat in Asia (Himalayas, China and Japan). Features oval, leathery, glossy dark green leaves (to 4” long). Leaf margins may be smooth or finely toothed. Tiny white flowers appear in axillary clusters in spring, with some sporadic bloom through the summer into fall. Varieties of the species bear flowers in orange, gold and reddish hues. The plant has very fragrant flower. In China, flowers are sometimes added to teas.  Genus name comes from the Greek words osme meaning fragrant and anthos meaning flower.
Specific epithet also means fragrant.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for scale and aphids.

Garden Uses

South of USDA Zone 8a, sweet olive is grown as a small flowering tree, shrub, hedge, screen or espalier for lawns and areas around the home. Further north, it is grown as a container plant for decks, patios or outdoor sitting areas or year round as a houseplant.

Courtesy of Missouri Botanical Society Plant Finder