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Shrubs

Osmanthus suavis

sweet osmanthus

O, suavis is an upright, evergreen shrub to 4m with shiny, dark green, sharply toothed leaves up to 8cm long, and small, sweetly scented, tubular white flowers in clusters in spring followed by blue-black berries

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Plant nurseries
3 suppliers

Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

1.5–2.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Oleaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Osmanthus can be evergreen shrubs or small trees with leathery, opposite leaves and small, usually fragrant, tubular white, yellow or orange flowers with 4 lobes, followed by ovoid blue-black fruits
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Himalaya

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained soil in sun or partial shade with shelter from cold winds

Propagation

Propagate by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Low Maintenance
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Pruning group 8

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus

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