Osmanthus, Variegated False Holly, Variegated Holly Olive 'Goshiki'

I've grown this in a 12" container for 5 years, outside here in Z8a yearround. Morning sun til noon, afternoon full shade. Keeps its va...Read Moreriegation well in these conditions. The foliage colors of cream, white, some pink, and green are a little too "busy" for my liking. I've had the more simple clean white/green O. heterophyllus variegatus for perhaps 8 years, love it, and thought the 'Goshiki' might be even better. The 'Goshiki' leaves are a little larger and somehow just aren't as attractive to me, but it's healthy and thriving. I ordered by mail...perhaps the one time I've been disappointed in a plant I'd only read about, not seen beforehand. The catalog description/photo was very accurate...the reality was just not as pretty. josh z8a

San Antonio, TX
Becoming more common in nurseries throughout the south, 'Goshiki' was introduced from Japan by Barry Yinger who wo...Read Morerks for Hines Nursery in California which has been instrumental in introducing a number of new plants into the US nursery trade.

'Goshiki' means "five colors" in Japanese and aptly describes the foliage. New growth is pink/bronze tinged maturing to a collage of daubs and/or flecks of gray-green, yellow-green, gold and cream. The leaves are 1-2" long and 1" wide with seven to nine spines. Osmanthus spines are softer and less prone to puncture than a true holly.

Small white four-petaled blooms hidden in the foliage appear in September and October and are fragrant. Usually, the plants do not set fruit in cultivation. It is upright, spreading and oval in form with very dense foliage having a slow to medium growth rate (4 to 6 inches per year). It is easily maintained at a desired shape and size by pruning.

Be sure to plant in filtered sun or partial shade in order to produce the coloration. It prefers a moist, light, well drained soil and must be watered during dry periods. In addition, it does not prefer exposed areas.

I have 2 small plants growing in pots in filtered shade which are doing well. The foliage is beautiful and brightens up the shadier area of my yard.

Update 2/9/09 - Both plants developed some type of fungus and I could not save them. They both died. I am saddened by this expensive loss and miss them.