I have a sweet olive planted at the open end of my back porch so I can smell it when I sit out and have my coffee in the morning. Nothing can beat it for the wonderful fragrance. Mine in on the south side of the house, in full sun and has been there about 6 years. It is about 5 ft tall and shrubby. I have seen hedges of them and have seen them standing alone. Mine is mixed in with my roses and is doing great. I am in St. Cloud, same zone.

I'm in 9a, have it in front of my house, about a month old, had its first flower last week, hehe

mine has about 6 hours of sun and it seems to be growing pretty fast, I water it every 2-3 days

I have one and love it . At Leu Gardens , these shrubs are used as a background planting . Tea Olives are not always the most attractive plants but make up for it when they bloom during cooler weather .
From the UF link : " This is a subtle plant which should be used more often in Southern landscapes. "
And best of all .... " No pests or diseases are of major concern. "

Here is a link that might be useful: Osmanthus fragrans: Sweet Osmanthus

IFAS needs to get with it! Seems like most of the publication don't have a color picture. Come on IFAS it's 2009!

So, it sounds like it needs to go in the ground - just have to find the spot. I especially liked the 'no pests or diseases' part, too..plus the fact that they 'perfume a large area of the landscape'....thanks for the input...can't wait til it blooms!

Try google images for nice color photographs - lots of good ones there .

Nothing smells as good!

I'm sold! I just read on Florida data that it will grow well in moist soil, in high shifting shade and in morning sun.

Where can I find one in the Tampa/Plant City area? Thanks.

Veronica

Mostly wanted to just say "Hi", Beth. :o) I have one too, but it is just 2 ft tall and I just put it in the ground, so I can't say much about it yet. I did put it close to the lanai, so I can smell it when it flowers.

i agree with gator--kinda ugly, scraggly plants, to be planted somewhere out of sight, but within smell range. really, their fragrance cannot be overrated. unlike anything else--not overpowering, instead, elusive and mysterious. mine grow under a canopy (loquat) that gets morning sun. never water them, never fertilize them. they bloom fitfully, and, oddly enough, they don't always smell when in bloom. it's like sometimes they just decide to smell.

These shrubs bloom on old wood with inconspicuous tiny white flowers . They take a break during the hot summer months and return to blooming in cooler weather .
The flowers release the most fragrance at sun up and sun down .
Excellent description of the scent ill-man !

Ahh...what great responses!! (hi Kat! *wavin*) I'm REALLY glad I have this plant, now! It happened that I have it - quite by accident. I was really looking for sweet almond (which I've since purchased) and asked for sweet olive, instead. DUH...but, it has bloomed and does smell grand - as does the sweet almond! We're going to dig up a penta that is near the patio and move that somewhere else...the sweet Olive will go there in it's place. We won't even see it right now because there is a drape of moonflower vines all across that end of the patio. I love all your descriptions and comments! Thanks.

Scraggly shrub huh? Sounds like it will be a "tree" in my garden. lol But then most everything else is too. ;o) Even woody vines are now trees.

The sweet almond is a 15 ft tree in my garden. I love to make standards out of shrubs that get too big for the space I've allowed them. I use rebar for support till they can stand on their own.

I have two of these. They lasted through the bitterly cold winter (well - cold for Florida!) and the dogs have not killed them. They are not gorgeous but not ugly. Problem? I see the blooms but even if I shove my nose into the plant I smell nothing. I have taken a bloom and crushed it to try to smell it - still nothing. I was considering doing a hedge on the mosty sunny Northern facing backside of my home (not a very visible place) mostly for the fragrance but am wondering about that now. Perhaps a long hedge of them would give a fragrance?

Mine blooms like crazy and does NOT smell a little bit. ;-(

I just bought two of these at GreenFest in Tampa. Mine are bushy, about 3 feet tall. The fragrance is subtle and seems to be borne on the wind in the early AM and early PM hours. In the middle of the day I do not detect any fragrance. Very mysterious.

Veronica - Kerby's nursery in Brandon has tea olive around the size I have for $16.95. I saw some just a little bit smaller at Manny's by the Bay on Hillsborough Ave. in Tampa for $7.99.

It is difficult to smell their distinct fragrance when it is warmer .
Tea Olives do better when treated like Camellias.
And just like Camellias , they need to be sprayed and treated for many fungal diseases and insect attacks .
I would hesitate to use them as a hedge .
Even at their best , Tea Olives are not the most attractive shrubs .
They are planted primarily for their perfume and not their looks .
These are great as a background shrub .