Osmanthus heterophyllus tricolor

The Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Tricolor' is a Japanese selection of variegated holly osmanthus with remarkable foliage that changes colour, truly decorative all year round. It is a compact, modest-sized bush with a naturally elegant conical habit. Its holly-like, dentate and prickly leaves have earned it the name False Holly Osmanthus. Throughout the seasons it changes from orange-pink to widely variegated green, speckled and punctuated with light yellow. At the end of the season, it charms with the fragrance of its small white flowers. It is a very pretty plant that prefers humus-rich and moist soil, and partial shade, in the garden or in a large pot on the terrace. 

The Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Tricolor' is sometimes sold under the name Osmanthus Goshiki, it is a Japanese horticultural creation dating back to before 1959. The typical Osmanthus heterophyllus is a bush hardy below -15°C (5°F), native to Japan and Taiwan. It belongs to the large and rich family of Oleaceae, which includes  the olive tree, lilac, and jasmine. 

The Tricolor Variegated Osmanthus is a slow-growing bush with a rounded conical habit, becoming pyramidal with time. At 10 years it reaches about 1.50m (4.9 ft) in all directions. Ultimately, it rarely exceeds 2.50m (8.2ft) in height. Since it tolerates pruning well, it can be shaped into a ball or a pyramid. The evergreen foliage is composed of ovate, thick, leathery leaves, strongly serrated at the edges, spiny and resembling holly leaves. They measure 4.5 to 6cm (2.4in) in length and 3cm (1.2in) in width. The young leaves are coloured orange-pink, then become variegated with green and yellow as they mature. The bush, covered with variegated foliage, is particularly decorative in spring. From September to October, small clusters of short-tubed, white flowers appear at the axils of the leaves on the current year's shoots. They measure 2 to 5mm (0.2in) in diameter and give a complex fragrance reminiscent of jasmine, but lighter, softened by notes of apricot and peach. The flowers, after pollination, are followed by the formation of dark blue-black fruits, 0.5 to 1cm (0.4in) long.

The Tricolor Variegated Osmanthus deserves a prime location, in dappled shade, to avoid damaging its variegated foliage. It can be planted alone, in the centre of a bed, along a path or in a container on the terrace, where it can be easily admired and enjoyed for its fragrance. Planted in a large pot, it can serve as a privacy screen on the balcony, for example. It can also be integrated into an evergreen hedge, with Elaeagnus ebbingei Compacta, Mahonia aquifolium, Sarcococca, or simply boxwood.