Fragrant tea olive is a broadleaf, evergreen shrub with a dense habit in the olive family (Oleaceae). It is native to China, Japan and Southeast Asia. This plant has small but extremely fragrant flowers that appear in the early spring and again in the fall. The genus name comes from the Greek words for fragrant ( osme ) and flower ( anthos ). The species epithet means “fragrant.” Plant this shrub in full sun to partial shade and in moist soils with good drainage. In southern climates, afternoon shade is a must. Heavy clay soils are tolerated. Once established this plant is drought tolerant, but be sure to supply supplemental watering in hot dry months. It responds well to pruning for shape and can be pruned into a tree or an espalier. When pruning, keep in mind that next season's blossoms will appear on old (this year’s) growth. Pruning can diminish next year’s floral display. In cooler climates, this plant can be grown in containers and overwintered indoors or as a houseplant. Several cultivars are available of both the white-flowered variety (var. fragrans ) and the orange-flowered variety (var. aurantiacus ), as well as hybrids between the two. Fragrant tee olive is one of the parents of Fortune’s osmanthus ( Osmanthus x fortunei ), but Fortune’s osmanthus has numerous, evenly spaced spines on its leaves, a feature inherited from its other parent, false holly ( Osmanthus heterophyllus ). Plant it as a large specimen for open or lawn areas, use it as a screen or hedge plant, or place it at the back of a perennial border. It works well in Asian, formal, or cottage gardens. Placing it near pathways, patios, or entrances ensures you can enjoy the delightful fragrance. The dried flowers are added to black tea to impart a delicate fragrance, so this plant has a place in edible gardens. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Watch for aphids and scale. It is frost-sensitive, and injury will affect flowering the following fall.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 14 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Multi-stemmed; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf margin
Dentate; Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf value
Long-lasting
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Opposite, simple, leathery, lustrous, dark green leaves; 2-5 in. long; finely dentate or entire
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Very fragrant smell like apricots, small white flowers in early spring and some in the fall appear in leaf axils. The flowers can be dried and added to tea.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring
Fruit color
Black; Blue
Fruit type
Drupe
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
East Asia
Play value
Buffer; Fragrance; Screening
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Winter
Fruit type
Drupe
Uses (ethnobotany)
The flowers of this plant are used in teas and other beverages that are consumed in the Far East. Extracts from the flower are highly valuable, and are used in some of the most expensive perfumes.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Lawn; Patio; Recreational Play Area; Walkways
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Children's Garden; Cottage Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; Edible Garden; Garden for the Blind
Design feature
Border; Hedge; Screen/Privacy; Small Tree; Specimen
Garden tags
#drought tolerant #fall interest #salt tolerant #fragrant flowers #evergreen #deer resistant #children's garden #buffer #mccarthy memorial garden #lawn planting #container plant #glossy leaves #year-round interest #evergreen shrub #flowers early spring #small tree #espalier #sensory garden #courtyard garden #evergreen tree #specimen #white flowers #clay soils tolerant #interiorscape #large shrub #border back #leathery leaves #flowers early fall #playground plant #hedge #patio #cpp #accent #tea #th-smell #edible flowers #HS303 #screen #walkway
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Aphids on Ornamental Landscape Plants; Armored Scale Identification and Management on Ornamental Plants; Bifasciculate Scale Insect; Red-Headed Flea Beetle Management in Container Nurseries; Sooty Molds; Pests of Lilac; Lilac Borer \ Ash Clearwing Borer
Resistant to
Deer; Drought; Salt
Particularly resistant to
Deer resistant, drought tolerant, and slightly salt tolerant.