Olivier-odorant
Osmanthus fragrans · Oleaceae
📷 Laitr Keiows · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
Olivier-odorant is in full bloom: enjoy it, watch watering in hot weather and let spent flowers feed pollinators before pruning.
ID card
- Common name
- Fragrant olive
- Family
- Oleaceae
- Form
- Shrub
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Flowering
- September to November
- Mature height
- Up to 3.5 m
- Exposure
- Partial shade to bright light
- Hardiness
- Moderate (sensitive to hard frost)
- Origin
- Tropical and subtropical Asia
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Osmanthus fragrans is a slow-growing shrub that requires minimal maintenance but demands good indirect light and proper drainage. It blooms best if you don't prune it, except to shape it during the first three years.
The common mistake
Placing it in too much shade where it rarely flowers, or pruning it when it's just starting to bloom.
The pro's trick
Plant it at the edge of a bright woodland or in an east-south-facing spot: it will reveal its intense autumn fragrance there without summer dryness.
Seasonal watch
Autumn-winter: flowering in September-November, be gentle and don't prune during blooming; watch for early frost if temperatures drop below -8°C.
Care
Exposure
Fragrant olive prefers a bright location or partial shade. In warm regions, a spot with protection from strong afternoon sun enhances its wellbeing. Insufficient light reduces flowering. Avoid overly shaded areas.
Watering
Keep the soil regularly moist but without excess water or waterlogging. During the growing season (spring-summer), water 1 to 2 times per week depending on conditions. Reduce watering in autumn and winter. Test the soil depth before watering.
Soil
Well-draining soil, slightly acidic to neutral, is ideal. Incorporate quality potting soil and sand if the soil is too heavy. Avoid excessive chalky soil and prolonged waterlogging of the roots.
Fertilizing
Fertilize every 15 days or so in spring and summer with a balanced fertilizer or one formulated for flowering plants. Reduce to monthly applications in autumn. Stop feeding in winter to encourage dormancy.
Pruning and maintenance
Prune lightly after flowering to maintain a harmonious shape and open up the shrub's center. Remove dead or poorly oriented branches. Avoid drastic pruning that could compromise the following year's flowering.
Pests and diseases
Fragrant olive is generally robust. Watch for spider mites in hot, dry climates. Excess humidity can encourage rot. Good air circulation and thoughtful watering management prevent most problems.
Did you know?
Fragrant olive is revered in East Asia, particularly in Japan and China, where its tiny cream-white or pale yellow flowers release a delicate, sweet fragrance during autumn. This exceptional scent has inspired poets and perfumers, as its aromas long remained mysterious in the West before its rediscovery in the 19th century.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Olive treeOlea europaea
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- Narrow-leaved mock privetPhillyrea angustifolia
- California privetLigustrum ovalifolium
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.