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Oleaceae
Holly Olive
Osmanthus heterophyllus
Protection and hidden sweetness.
- Family
- Oleaceae
- Genus
- Osmanthus
- Native to
- Japan, Taiwan
- Bloom season
- Fall
- Type
- evergreen shrub
- Height
- 200–500 cm
- Sunlight
- full sun to part shade
- Soil
- well-drained, acidic to neutral
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- 6–9
- Lifespan
- perennial; decades
Did you know
- Holly olive leaves resemble true holly, complete with spiny margins, but the two are unrelated.
- Its tiny flowers produce an unexpectedly powerful sweet fragrance that carries on autumn breezes.
- In Japan it is called 'hiiragi' and is traditionally planted at gates to ward off evil spirits.
- Older specimens lose their spiny leaves, producing smooth-edged foliage near the top of the plant.
- The genus name Osmanthus derives from Greek 'osme' (fragrance) and 'anthos' (flower).
Color meanings
White
purity and subtle fragrance