Zip Line Osmanthus. This Osmanthus armatus selection is an introduction by Xera Plants, Inc. of Portland, Oregon. It is a stunning selection of a little known species. Jim Porter of Columbia, South Carolina, was a great friend and avid plantsman. Jim shared this Osmanthus armatus which volunteered in his garden from an old established plant, origin unknown. So, we started propagating it, and I named it Osmanthus armatus 'Jim Porter'. I did not know that it had traveled as far as the West Coast, but Xera Plants found this small branch spot on one of their specimens. We have since found an almost identical sport on one of our plants, which we have yet to name. Both of these sports are truly stunning! But I have seen similar variegated sports on Illicium floridanum occur on plants hundreds of miles apart. The original 'Jim Porter' was about 10 ft tall and 7-8 ft. wide. By now it is probably much larger as this was 30 years ago. It will grow in sun or shade. Xera Plants says that it has not burnt in full sun in Portland, but that is Portland, not South Carolina. We have been growing our container plants in full sun, with no damage at all, but we do water daily in the warmer months with overhead impact heads, which does create a cooling effect. It is truly one of the more striking variegated cultivars of any Osmanthus that I have seen. We have not encountered any pest problems at all. This will make a striking accent in most any garden. Xera Plants reports it taking temps slightly below 0°F with no damage. The first picture is compliments of Jay Yourch. The second picture is the size of plants that we are shipping. The last picture is of the similar sport to 'Zip Line' that occurred on one of our plants that is almost identical. We also have a new selection for which we are building up numbers with all gold leaves.
Zones 6b-9
Zone 6b-9
