Osmanthus fragrans f. aurantiacus

Osmanthus fragrans f. aurantiacus will delight collectors of rare plants. This beautiful form with orange flowers of the fragrant Osmanthus is an evergreen bush of noble stature that blooms from late spring to autumn, in successive waves. Its small yellow-orange flowers emit the same sweet scent as the species with white flowers: it is a floral fragrance with fruity accents highly sought after by perfumiers. With its appearance of a small tree with a wide and rounded crown, its beautiful dark green and shiny foliage, and its wonderful flowering, it lacks neither presence nor charm. In the garden, this bush is not demanding in terms of soil, as long as it is well-drained. Its only drawback is its relative hardiness, which reserves it for cultivation in open ground in regions where the winter is mild.

Osmanthus fragrans, also known as Chinese olive, fragrant olive, or tea olive, is a very beautiful bush or small tree native to the high-altitude forests of the warm temperate regions of China, Japan, and Vietnam. It is a species that prefers a rather mild climate: a well-established subject (after 3 or 4 years of cultivation) will be able to survive short frosts of around -8°C (17.6 °F), in healthy soil and sheltered from the wind. Tolerating both slightly acidic and more limestone soils, this Osmanthus adapts well to dry soils in summer, once well established. It belongs to the large and rich family of Oleaceae, which includes, for example, the olive tree, lilacs, and jasmines. The 'aurantiacus' form, a natural mutation of the species, differs only in the orange hue of its flowers.

The growth of this bush is quite slow. It has a dense, spreading habit, often producing several small trunks topped by a wide and dense crown. At maturity, it will reach an average of 4m (13ft 1in) in height and 3m (9ft 10in) in width. Under very favorable conditions, it can exceed 5m (16ft 5in) in height and 4m (13ft 1in) in width. The foliage, evergreen throughout the year, consists of oval, thick, and leathery leaves, measuring up to 14cm (5.5in) in length and 4cm (1.6in) in width, arranged opposite on the branches. The lamina is shiny dark green on the upper side, matte and lighter underneath.

Flowering generally begins in June. If the soil remains somewhat moist in summer, it sporadically renews until October. If the summer is dry, the flowering declines and resumes with the return of rain. Each wave of flowers lasts about 10 days. The flowers appear on the current year's shoots, grouped in small clusters in the axils of the leaves. Each 1cm (0.4in) flower, with a waxy texture, takes the form of a short tube flaring into 4 rounded lobes. The flowers emit a complex fragrance reminiscent of jasmine, but lighter, softened by notes of apricot, apple, clementine, and ripe peach. After pollination by pollinating insects (except bees, which are repelled by the richness of the ethanol-based perfume), they are followed by the formation of oval blue-black fruits, 1.5cm (0.6in) long.

Osmanthus fragrans f. aurantiacus deserves a prominent place in a garden with a mild temperate climate. It can be used in shrub borders, as a solitary plant, in a flowering hedge, or even in a very large container. Plant it near a pathway to fully enjoy its fragrance and unique presence. It can be associated with other evergreen shrubs that flower at different times, such as Ceanothus Concha, Elaeagnus, Mahonia, Sarcococca, or Garrya elliptica, in partial shade. In an evergreen hedge, it will complement Viburnum tinus 'Purpureus', Rhamnus alaternus, Prunus lusitanica, Photinias, large privets, oleanders, or bay laurels.

Properties and uses:

Osmanthus flowers are sometimes mixed with tea to flavour it, or with biscuits, and are locally used in the production of a very old traditional Chinese liqueur served in jade cups. Perfumery also uses 'Osmanthus absolute' in the composition of high-end perfumes or cosmetics. 'Osmanthus absolute' also has repellent properties against insects. The bark and roots are part of traditional Asian pharmacopoeia and are used to treat various inflammatory conditions or chronic coughs.