Description
If you have ever walked past a garden or a sidewalk and noticed a sweet, refreshing scent that instantly enhances your mood, chances are you have spotted the Fragrant Tea Olive plant. Also known as Sweet Olive, False Holly, and Sweet Osmanthus, this species is an evergreen bush that also bears showy white flowers.
With glossy green leaves and a dense structure, this mini tree manages to add an aesthetic touch to any garden space. If you are looking for a compact yet timeless plant, buying a full grown Tea Olive tree might just be an excellent option.
Features and Benefits of the Fragrant Tea Olive
The Fragrant Tea Olive is an evergreen, broadleaf shrub that bears aromatic white flowers, giving any landscape a refreshing turn. Botanically known as Osmanthus fragrans, the plant is primarily native to Asia, but some notable varieties of the species are also found in China, Japan, and Korea.
Liked by garden enthusiasts and new plant parents alike, the Fragrant Olive bush is a low-maintenance species and can be easily taken care of. It also offers numerous benefits; let us explore them in the following section.
| Aromatic Appeal: The Fragrant Olive tree gives tough competition to other plant varieties like Lavender and Jasmine, as it has a captivating fruity scent that enhances any garden space. |
| Year-Round Visual Treat: Having small white flowers that create a beautiful contrast with the lush green foliage, the genus is a treat to sore eyes. |
| Great Pollinators: The scent of the tree acts as a magnet for many pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. |
| Contributes to the Biodiversity: Apart from being a great pollinator, the Tea Olive plant also supports the local biodiversity by providing food and shelter to many wildlife species. |
| Environment-Friendly: Apart from being visually appealing, the plant is also environment-friendly as it has a strong root structure that binds the soil and prevents soil erosion. |
The adaptability and versatility of the genus make it a convenient option to add to your plant collection. It can also be used as an indoor plant to elevate the home decor or to simply add an aromatic touch to your living space.
How to Care for Tea Olive Plants?
Although the Fragrant Tea Olive plant is easy to care for, it takes certain climatic conditions to help them flourish. Let us explore the ultimate care guide that you should follow if you plan to add this alluring species to your mini balcony.
| Sunlight Exposure | Needs a minimum of 6 hours of bright, direct sunlight. It can also be grown in areas with partial shade. |
| Water Requirement | Requires deep watering during the initial growing stages. Avoid waterlogging and allow the soil to dry. |
| Soil Type | The Tea Olive plant can be grown in a variety of soil types, but try planting them in a fertile and permeable soil. |
| Hardiness Zone | 7-10 USDA |
| Bloom Time | Early fall to late winter |
| Growth Rate | Moderate growth rate (12 inches (ca. 30 cm) per year) |
| Mature Height and Width | 10–30 feet tall and 6–15 feet wide |
| Fertilizer | A balanced NPK fertilizer works wonders and can promote a healthy life for the plant. |
The Tea Olive trees grow best in warmer climate zones. It requires pruning only when they spread too wide. Make sure to remove dead or damaged branches of the tree to encourage new growth.
Propagating the species using the stem cutting method is advisable if you wish to have a genus that it true to its parent plant.
Taxonomic Overview of the Ornamental Olive Tea Shrub
If you are a seasoned botanist or simply a garden enthusiast and wish to explore more about the Fragrant Tea Olive, it is ideal to understand its botanical background. Scroll further to learn about its taxonomy in depth.
| Scientific Classification of the Fragrant Olive Bush | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Clade | Angiosperms (Flowering plant) |
| Clade | Eudicots |
| Clade | Asterids |
| Order | Lamiales |
| Family | Oleaceae (Olive family) |
| Genus | Osmanthus |
| Species/Botanical Name | Osmanthus fragrans |
The taxonomic overview of the genus allows gardeners to learn more about its notable cultivars and helps them understand how to cultivate these without any plant mishaps.
User Reviews and Ratings
Review: Planted the Tea Olive tree in my garden. The appearance is too stunning, and the white flowers look surreal.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review: The contrast of glossy green leaves and earthy white flowers makes my garden space so elegant and graceful.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review: I recently bought these Fragrant Tea Olive trees for my backyard. Can’t wait for them to grow luxuriantly.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review: Spotted the Fragrant Tea Olive tree at my neighbor’s, and I simply couldn’t stop staring.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What is the Tea Olive plant used for?
Many prefer adding this plant to their garden spaces for a year-round sweet scent, but the white flowers are often used to make perfumes and body deodorants.
Can Tea Olive trees survive a freeze?
While the olive bushes can be grown well in cold climate zones, frost areas may damage the leaves of the plant.
How big does a Tea Olive tree get?
The Tea Olive trees can grow up to a height of 10–30 feet.
