Osmanthus Species, Chinese Holly, False Holly, Holly Olive

Osmanthusheterophyllus

Family
Oleaceae (oh-lee-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Osmanthus (os-MAN-thus)
Species
heterophyllus (het-er-oh-FIL-us)
Synonym
Osmanthus ilicifolius
Sun Exposure
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage
Evergreen
Shiny/Glossy
Height
12-15 ft. (3.6-4.7 m)
Spacing
10-12 ft. (3-3.6 m)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Danger
N/A
Bloom Color
White/Near White
Bloom Time
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other Details
Category
Shrubs
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
From semi-hardwood cuttings
From hardwood heel cuttings
Seed Collecting
Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Phenix City, Alabama

Rohnert Park, California

Wilmington, Delaware

Waynesboro, Mississippi

Brooklyn, New York

San Antonio, Texas

Cape Charles, Virginia

Vancouver, Washington

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Gardener's Notes:

2
positives
1
neutral
0
negative
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R
Wilmington, DE (Zone 7a) | March 2008 | positive

I live in Zone 7a in Wilmington, Delaware and I have found this plant to be reliably hardy. This species does well in sun or shade but c...Read More

A
A
| March 2006 | positive

I have Osmanthus in my garden for two years. I´m from Sarajevo, Bosnia (7a?!). This winter my plant recive frost down to -17 C (there wa...Read More

L
Germantown, OH | February 2004 | neutral

I was surprised that so many of the “False Hollies” are classified differently. But all fall under the same name, Osmanthus hetero...Read More

Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Variegatus' is not hardy in zone 7, when all of the charts say it is. I would like to find a variegated false holly that would grow in Ohio.

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