Delavay osmanthus

Delavay osmanthus: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Slow-growing, evergreen shrub about 2 m tall and 2.5 m wide, with gracefully arching branches.

Foliage

Small, 2–3 cm, oval, glossy dark green and finely toothed, in opposite pairs on the stem.

Flowers

Small white, tubular flowers about 1 cm long in clusters, in March–April.

Scent

Sweet and strong, like jasmine; you can smell it from a distance.

Fruit

Small, oval, blue-black drupes in autumn, not every year.

Flowering: March–April · Plants: April–May and September–October · Pruning: April–May

Why grow it?

• Fragrant flowers in March–April, when little else is in bloom: a welcome food source for early bees.
• Evergreen, with fine, glossy foliage that looks good all year.
• Graceful, arching habit; it grows slowly and needs little pruning.
• Lovely as a clipped or informal hedge, or as a specimen in a border.
• Grows in sun and part shade and in many soil types, including chalky soil.
• A fragrant plant beside the front door, a terrace or a seating area.

Delavay osmanthus: where does it grow best?

• Sun or part shade; it flowers best in the sun.
• Well-drained, humus-rich soil: sand, loam or clay, acid to chalky.
• Normally moist; it tolerates short dry spells, but not wet feet.
• Sheltered from cold, drying wind and late spring frosts, which can damage the flowers.
• Allow 2–2.5 m per shrub; for a hedge, plant at 80–100 cm.

Light

Sun and partial shade

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal

Size

2 m tall, 2.5 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -15 °C)

Goes well with

• Witch hazel: Flowers as early as winter and brings colour before the osmanthus opens.
• Hellebore: Flowers at the same time and enjoys the part shade at the foot of the shrub.
• Skimmia: Evergreen with pretty buds and red berries, in the same part shade.
• Barrenwort: Delicate spring flowers as ground cover under the shrub.

Delavay osmanthus: when and how to plant it?

Plant in April–May and September–October.

1. Plant in April–May or in September–October, when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and mix in a few spadefuls of compost.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in its pot and firm the soil well.
4. Leave 2–2.5 m between shrubs; in a hedge, 80–100 cm.
5. Water thoroughly straight away, even if it is raining.
6. Spread a layer of leaf mould or bark around the base, without covering the stem.

Care

Water

In the first year, water weekly in dry weather. After that, give a good soaking now and then in long dry spells.

Feeding

Compost or organic fertiliser for shrubs in April. Do not feed after July.

Mulching

A layer of leaf mould or bark in spring keeps the soil cool and moist.

In a pot

It also grows in a large pot with a good drainage hole; water more often and feed monthly during the growing season.

Tip: Plant it sheltered and prune only after flowering, in April–May: it flowers on last year’s wood. Put it near the front door or a seating area to enjoy the scent.

Delavay osmanthus: when to prune it?

Pruning months: April–May.

When: Straight after flowering, in April–May. It rarely needs pruning.

How:

• Cut dead, weak and crossing branches back to a healthy side shoot.
• As a hedge, trim it once a year after flowering with secateurs or hedge shears.
• To keep it smaller, shorten it after flowering in small steps, not drastically all at once.

Caution: Do not prune in late summer or autumn: you would cut off the flower buds for the following spring.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Cuttings

From July to September: semi-ripe cuttings of 8–10 cm with a small heel of old wood, in a mix of sand and potting compost under plastic. They root slowly; overwinter them frost-free.

Layering

In spring, bend a low branch down, pin it and cover it with soil; separate it after a year or longer.

Delavay osmanthus: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −15 °C: protect young plants.

• Hardy down to about −15 °C: usually safe in Flanders, especially in a sheltered spot.
• In hard winters the leaf edges may turn brown or flower buds may freeze; a sheltered position and a layer of mulch help.
• In a pot, stand it against a warm wall and wrap the pot in hessian so the roots do not freeze.

Diseases and pests

• Frost and wind damage: Brown leaf edges or dried-out flower buds after a cold winter. Wait until after flowering to cut anything out: it often recovers.
• Yellow leaves: Yellowing can come from wet, compacted or poor soil. Improve drainage and apply compost or organic fertiliser.
• Scale insects: Small brown scales on stems and leaves, sometimes with sticky honeydew. Wipe them off with a soft brush and soapy water.
• Poor flowering: Too much shade or pruning too late, which removed the buds. Give it more sun and prune only after flowering.

Through the year

• March: Flowering begins: enjoy the scent. Check for dead wood.
• April: Flowering. Plant. Apply compost or organic fertiliser.
• May: Prune after flowering. Plant.
• June: Water in dry weather, especially young plants.
• July: Take semi-ripe cuttings.
• August: Take cuttings. Water in dry weather.
• September: Plant. Take cuttings.
• October: Plant. Mulch.
• November: Protect young plants from frost.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• The name Osmanthus comes from the Greek osme (scent) and anthos (flower): literally ‘fragrant flower’.
• It belongs to the olive family (Oleaceae), like olive, lilac, jasmine and ash.
• It is named after Jean-Marie Delavay, a French missionary and plant collector who found it in Yunnan in the nineteenth century.