Randy's Plant Pick: Sweet Olive

Hey guys!

I'm back with another plant pick for November! This month, I wanted to highlight Sweet Olive, or Osmanthus fragrans. It is also known as fragrant tea olive.

Sweet olive is a broadleaf evergreen shrub. This plant typically grows to a height of 10 to 20 feet and has extremely fragrant flowers that appear sporadically in the fall and continues to spring.

Mine is loaded with blooms right now!

The blooms on this plant are quite small, but they pack a mighty scent that is very pleasant in the garden.

What kind of care does sweet olive need?

I recommend planting this shrub in full sun to partial shade with good drainage. Sweet olive also tolerates heavy clay soil. It doesn't like extremely sandy soils, however.

To get the most bang for your buck, be sure to plant sweet olive somewhere you can enjoy the lovely scent!

Supplemental watering is required in hot, dry months, so make sure you are watering it well in the summer. Once established this plant is drought tolerant.

Sweet olive responds well to pruning. It can be pruned into a small ornamental tree.

Planting zones vary by species, so be sure to read up on the variety you get, and if you have any further questions about planting this plant or any other, be sure to ask your county agent for advice.

Do you have Sweet Olive in your Arkansas Garden?

Show it off by using the hashtag #TheArkansasGarden!