I have both. The osmanathus fragrans started out in a 1 gallon pot about 4 years ago, and it's growing but slowly. It's in quite a bit of shade, but when/if it ever gets as tall as the fence it will get lots more sun. Blooming now, and it is fragrant, but still so small I have to really bend down into it to smell the flowers. This is the 2nd year for the kidneywood and it grows like crazy. It's already 6 1/2 feet tall, but still pretty spindly since it's young. I'll cut it back this winter to try to bush it out more. It started flowering in August and attracted lots of insects like wasps, bees, a few small butterflies and other small flying insects. I'm in an area of red clay. The tea olive is in pretty good moist soil, the kidneywood is in lightly amended clay and in a fairly dry area.

I grow both of these in east Texas, in sandy soil (but irrigated). I had the fragrant olive in a large pot for a year or two, but never moved it in so sunk it in the ground last year - it's doing very well in its shady spot and blooms there too. I swear I can smell the flowers all over the property. I know I could smell the ones at Blooming Colors as soon as I walked into their shrub/tree area!

I had a nice kidneywood out at the street, but something came along and pulled it out of the ground. I since bought another one and installed it in a bed by the deck, so I could catch the fragrance as I sat outside. It didn't blink when I moved it from pot to ground, and put on a nice show of blooms. I love its delicate foliage - looks like lace. It's in full sun.

I'm growing both. The Olive is in the back in a really great bed and is growing s-l-o-w-l-y. Smells pretty good. The Kidneywoods are in the hellstrip, with reflected heat on all 4 sides, doing well. They smell really good but with quite a few it can get a bit strong. My favorite is the Kidneywood.

Thanks for your replies, I may learn how to spell Kidneywod after all this!

Are these trees that can be purchased from the big box stores, or do I need to special order? After your replies, sure would like to try both. Thanks again.

I got my tea olive at Calloways and the Kidneywood from Green Mamas. The tea olive will probably show up at the big box stores, but the kidneywood might have to come from a nursery that handles alot of natives.

I've got lots and lots of osmanthus up here. I'v found that it's one of the few plants that are said to like part sun but actually love lots of sun even in Texas. They bloom best in sun and grow leafier in sun. But they live just fine even in total shade. Love this plant. The blooms are small and insignificant except for the apricot smell which waftes through the garden. It likes Texas so much that I've got 60 or so. They form the walls for my garden rooms. Believe me that you won't enjoy that many because the fragrance really does get overpowering. But they live and thrive and grow quicky with no water and plenty of sun. I see them all the time at the big box stores. Easy to root but slow to grow from a cutting.

I've seen Osmanthus at Lowe's, and just bought another at Blooming Colors (using my Groupon). I bought my kidneywood at Redenta's.

I grow both also in Dallas and they do great. Thats nice to hear that the Osmanthus can be rooted. What about rooting the kidneywood?

I got my olive at Mike's in Fort Worth. I got my Kidneywood at Weston Gardens.

I have one growing in rocky limestone soil So far, it's doing well. It seems to appreciate some afternoon shade in hot weather compared to the other one in full sun all day long. I have orange and yellow in the pot that I plan on planting soon. I noticed that Nurcar.com is selling a red flowered ones. I got Fudingzhu, yellow and orange ones from there.

Hi Lou, which tree are you referring to?

Sorry agrose! I was talking about tea olive.

Looks like Nurcar sold out 1g red sweet olives. 2g for high price. yikes. I got the red one but i'm afraid it may take maybe 2-3 years before it's big enough to start producing flowers. :(