Tea Olive (Fragrant Osmanthus)
For sale in Lawrenceville, GA
- Moderate (1-2 ft/year)
- Full Sun to Part Shade
- Cold hardy to USDA Zone 8a
- Deer resistant
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About Tea Olive (Fragrant Osmanthus)
Tea Olive (Osmanthus fragrans) is grown less for showy flowers, its small white blooms are easy to overlook, and more for arguably the most fragrant flower of any Southern landscape shrub, filling an entire yard with an apricot-like sweetness every fall when it blooms. It grows into a dense, glossy-leaved evergreen 15-20 feet tall and 8-12 feet wide, functioning as an effective privacy screen while doubling as a fragrance plant near patios, porches, and windows where its scent can be enjoyed. Gwinnett County gardeners often plant it close to outdoor living spaces specifically for the fall fragrance, then let it also serve screening duty along a fence or property line. It tolerates Georgia's clay soil and summer humidity well and is generally trouble-free once established, with few pest or disease issues. Growth is moderate, roughly 1-2 feet per year, making it slower to fill in than a conifer but exceptionally long-lived and low-maintenance, tolerating both sun and considerable shade beneath taller trees.
🚚 Delivery available to Lawrenceville and all of Gwinnett County — see our service area for exact timing.
Plant Specifications
| Mature Height | 15-20 ft |
|---|---|
| Mature Width | 8-12 ft |
| Sun Requirements | Full Sun to Part Shade |
| Water Needs | Moderate — weekly until established, then drought tolerant |
| Bloom Season | Fall (with light sporadic bloom in spring) |
| Growth Rate | Moderate (1-2 ft/year) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 8a |
| Deer Resistant | Yes |
| Pet Safe | Yes |
| Native to Georgia | No |
Planting Instructions & Regional Tips
Plant Tea Olive in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil, siting it near a patio, walkway, or window where its fall fragrance can be appreciated. Space plants 6-8 feet apart for screening. Water weekly the first season; established plants are moderately drought tolerant. It tolerates pruning well if a more formal hedge shape is preferred over its natural rounded form.
Great For
Fast Facts
- Extremely fragrant fall-blooming flowers, apricot-like scent
- Mature height: 15-20 ft, width 8-12 ft
- Moderate growth: 1-2 ft per year
- Tolerates full sun to significant shade
- Deer resistant, low pest and disease pressure
- Best sited near patios or windows for fragrance
Pairs Well With
Tea Olive (Fragrant Osmanthus) FAQs
When does Tea Olive bloom?
Tea Olive blooms primarily in fall, typically September through November in Georgia, producing small white flowers with an intensely sweet, apricot-like fragrance that can perfume an entire yard. Some plants also produce lighter, sporadic blooms in spring.
Is Tea Olive good for privacy?
Yes, Tea Olive grows into a dense evergreen screen 15-20 feet tall and 8-12 feet wide, making it effective for privacy while also providing intensely fragrant fall flowers, a dual benefit few other screening plants offer for Georgia landscapes.