Does anyone have a fragrant olive (Osmanthus fragrans)

16 years ago

I finally got a fragrant olive and the blooms have no scent. Evidently there are different varieties, some more fragrant then others. Does anyone have a rooted cutting of a fragrant variety? I have passies, brugs, plumeria, jasmine and other plants to trade. I'm not sure that I want to chance buying another one mail order and having it end up a dud.

Thanks,

Karyn

Featured Answer

jimshy

16 years ago

I believe I read somewhere that osmanthus is one of those scents that some folks have a hard time smelling, due to genetics -- sort of like some people find skunk odor to be odd but not awful.

There are also variations from one cultivar, and even one plant, to another. It's just one of those elusive scents, so keep sniffing til you find one that smells good!

Jim

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Comments (11)

orchids41
16 years ago
You live in Maryland? I would think you'd be able to find a nice sized shrub at a nursery in your area instead of having to mail order one. Never heard of a NON-fragrant Osmanthus fragrans (Tea Olive). I have several large plants that bloom, primarily, in the winter down here, and they're all very fragrant. Could it be that you were sent the wrong plant?
karyn1
Original Author
16 years ago
I'm in MD, just outside of DC. I haven't seen them at any of the local nurseries. Then again I haven't looked too hard because the local suppliers have a dismal selection of most plants except for really common varieties. I was sent the correct plant, it just doesn't have any scent to speak of.
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carmie2
16 years ago
There has to be different varieties!..I have one also that has no scent at all!..Very disappointing!!!
forever_a_newbie_VA8
16 years ago
I live a little south to you (tide water area in VA). HomeDepot used to carry them. Haven't checked lately. I would be suprised if you can't find one locally. Maybe you can try some garden centers, like Mcdonald, or Anderson?
filix
16 years ago
I bought one a couple of months ago from logees. Its very small but has a few blooms. They smell like roses to me. When I smell it at night it has no fragrance. In the morning its back. filix
kaihui
16 years ago
I am in Charlottesville, VA, about 2 hour south of you.

I bought 3 from Lowes in the Spring, the leaves and flowes are definitely O. Fragrance, and they do have nice fragrance, but not as strong as I had in China. The cultivar I bought from lowres is 4 season one.
mrmiddleton
16 years ago
I have had one for a little over a year now from Logees - very small (as all of their plants seem to be), but healthy. It's been a very consistent bloomer - seemingly year round, with just a few pauses. A bit concerning though - seems to always flower, and never add much in the way of new leaves. Nicely fragrant though.
jeff_al
16 years ago
in my experience with tea olive, the fragrance can be strong at times, depending on weather conditions. when mine flowers (fall and winter here), if i am near it in the early mornings or at night when it is cool and perhaps damp from dew, i can not detect a fragrance. however, as the air warms and especially on dry autumn days with high air pressure, it will waft a long distance from the shrub, smelling just like apricots to me.
also notice the same scenario with nicotiana and even petunias.
check the box store garden centers in your area. they stock them here (i want to say about $6.00 for a 2' tall plant)and they should be blooming now.
kaihui
16 years ago
"smelling just like apricots to me"

In my hometown, Sweet Olive's fragrance is much stronger than apricot. Only night blooming jasmine has the same degree of power of fragrance, from my experience.
daxin
16 years ago
In China, there are several Osmanthus fragrans cultivars that are selected for their superior fragrance, and they are grown in plantations specifically for their flower harvest. Usually the Four-season group is used as a potted plant and is not as fragrant as the Thunbergii group (Golden Osmanthus) or the Latifolius group (Silver Osmanthus). But there are several new cultivars that do have nice fragrance. Nursery Caroliana has this 'Fudingzhu' cultivar that belongs to the Four-season group. This one blooms for a long time and is very fragrant.