Round-leaf Tea Olive.
This was one of the most popular shrubs of my Clemson horticultural advisor and Professor Fred W. Thode. He was by far the best landscape designers that I have ever known, and somehow, he was able to work one or more of this selection in almost every design. It makes a stunning mound of green with round, non-prickly leaves of 1.5" to 2" long by less than an inch and a half wide. It is slow growing and matures at around 5' to 6' high with an equal or greater spread. The reason it is not often seen available is that it is so difficult to propagate. It is very difficult to root so the Japanese often graft this plant. It flowers in late fall with white fragrant flowers. It is one of a few shrubs that does equally well in sun or shade. We never have any problems with pests on this shrub, and even deer avoid it as they do with all Osmanthus. This species of Osmanthus is also the most cold hardy of all Tea Olives, doing well in zone 6, but some report that this variety is slightly less hardy, growing well into zone 7.
Zones 7-9
