Last updated on January 27th, 2020
Are you familiar with Sweet Olive (Osmanthus fragrans)? From October through June, this shrubby evergreen opens a profusion of tiny, apricot-scented, creamy-white flowers. I have it on the wide, eastern sill in my guestroom, where it mingles beautifully with fancy-leaved geraniums, African violets and hoya vines.
The guest room in question.
Osmanthus is very easy to please. Give it daily water, cool temperatures, and moderate humidity. It blooms constantly for me with only two hours of direct morning sun, yet it perfumes the air all day long. Any soil on the acidic side will do. Feed monthly with a weak solution of Miracid (a 1/4 teaspoon dissolved in a gallon of water). Beware of too frequent feeding, or its leaf-tips will turn brown. Slow growing, the plant requires shifting to a larger pot only every other year.
If I didn’t already have Sweet Olive, I’d surely order it! For this is a plant that gives and gives, and asks but little in return.
For more gardening tips, sign up for Kevin’ weekly newsletter!
Related Posts:
African Violets: My Easy Program
Hardy Bulbs for Winter Windows
The Fragrant, Fruiting Meyer Lemon
Laura says
A friend gave me this plant for my birthday last year. It always has flowers on it. I grow it in a south window, and I thought its brown leaf tips were from too much sun. But it must be from too much plant food. And, I've been using regular Miraclegro houseplant food, not Miracid. Thanks for clearing the matter up!
Gregory says
I have this osmanthus too. It is getting a little leggy, though. Can I take tip cuttings from it, and start new plants?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Laura – So glad you enjoy osmanthus as much as I do! Brown leaf tips usually indicate over-fertilizing.
Gregory – Yes, you can take tip cuttings, dip them lightly in rooting hormone, and set them in moist sand or vermiculite. Spring is the best time to propagate Sweet Olive.
Roger says
Is regular potting soil (like Pro-Mix) acidic enough for Osmanthus?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Roger – Yes. Pro-Mix contains peat moss, which is in fact acidic.
Anonymous says
I just got a new Osmanthus, I put it by south window. My room temperature is always set at 70 degree, is that cool enough? Do I need to water it daily?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Anonymous – sorry for the delayed response!
Yes, water your osmonthus daily. And, in a room of such high heat, you might want to set it on a humidifying bed of pebbles and water. Just make sure the plant sits on the pebbles, ABOVE the level of water. Good luck with your plant!
Rebecca says
I have an Osmanthus since last summer. It bloomed throughout the winter and spring. Lately it has shedded almost all of its leaves. (A few new ones did come out.) Is that normal? Also I never fed it any plant food, yet some of the leaf tips turned brown. I hope I didn't do anything to kill the plant as I really like it.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Rebecca – welcome! Give your osmanthus a summer vacation out of doors. Provided a SHADY location, daily water, and a firm, weekly blast with the garden hose, the plant will quickly regain its beauty. I follow this very regimen for my own pair of osmanthus; the summer rest reverses all kinds of winter-ills (including dropped foliage), and insures the health and vigor needed for the coming winter months indoors.
Anonymous says
口
John says
The latest catalog from Logee's lists a new cultivar of Sweet Olive called 'Fudingzhu'. Pictured with dense clusters of bloom that totally encircle the branches.
Last spring my four-year old Sweet Olive, which had performed so well every winter, abruptly defoliated and died! I think I'll replace it with this new cultivar. Do you have it yet?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
John – I just checked, and 'Fudingzhu' looks stunning. I'll order one this week.
BTW, Have you entered the drawing (on the homepage here) to win a $50 gift certificate to Logees?
Teresa says
Can Osmanthus being plant outdoor?
Barb says
I had a wonder sweet olive in Charleston SC. 1st in pot then in ground. I left it there. I am now in VA. I found one at Lowes. I had it on the patio but when it started freezing, brought it in to sit by sliding glass door. It is very messy indoors. It has some brown leaves also white spots on its leaves. I’m trying to keep it alive until it can go back outside. It is dropping leaves and brown blooms. Not sure if I should just buy a new one or save this one. It actually still a pleasant fragrance. As I love color, I put those colored plant marbles on the top of the soil. It is HEAVY to move. I am guessing it is not the right time to prune? I appreciate any advise I can get. Thanks so much.
Harry says
I live in Portland Oregon. I have a osmenthus a few years ago and it’s doing very well in my garden. It tolerated a Sever winter storm with temperature down in the 20 degrees for a whole week! For sure I thought it died. It didn’t even drop leaves.