Fruitland's Fortune Tea Olive. This species is actually a cross between Osmanthus heterophyllus and O. fragrans and was introduced from Japan in 1856. The original plant introduced into the U.S. was a male. Its leaves are intermediate between the two parent species with some spines which are not as pronounced as O. heterophyllus. It makes a truly handsome shrub which can mature at 15'-20' in height with an equal spread, but it can easily be kept much smaller with some judicious pruning. As a young shrub, it will not flower, but when it begins to mature at 4'-6' in height, it will flower in October in the fall with unusually white fragrant flowers, but it will not repeat flower as its parent O. fragrans. It will also grow in full sun to shade. 'Fruitlandii' is a cultivar selected by Fruitland Nurseries here in Augusta, GA, some years ago which has leaves somewhat longer than the species. We don't have any cultural problems with Osmanthus except an occasional white fly, but rarely do we have to spray for them. Deer have avoided them as well.
Zones 7-9
