Osmanthus delavayi aka Delavay Teaolive

Osmanthus delavayi is a shrub in the olive family. It is evergreen, keeping its leaves through winter. Gardeners also call it Delavay tea olive. It comes from south-central and southwestern China. Its range includes Guizhou, Sichuan, and Yunnan. Wild plants grow on dry hillsides, in scrub, and in forests. They also grow in mountain ravines, thickets, and mixed woods. Some sites have limestone soils. The species name honors Jean Marie Delavay. He was a French missionary and plant explorer.

This shrub grows at a slow pace, with dense branches. Its thin branches arch under a thick cover of leaves. Sources give garden heights of 6–13 feet [1.8–4 metres]. Oregon State gives a smaller range of 6–8 feet [1.8–2.4 metres]. RHS gives both height and spread up to 13 feet [4 metres]. Plants can take 10–20 years to reach full size. Small leaves grow in pairs, facing each other across the branches. They are dark green and shiny, with a leathery feel. Their edges have teeth. Their shape ranges from oval to narrow and pointed. Leaves reach about one inch long.

Small white flowers open from late winter into early spring. Their strong scent adds interest before many other shrubs bloom. The tube-shaped flowers grow in groups at branch tips. They also grow where leaves join the branches. Each flower has four lobes that turn back. Blue-black fruits called drupes may follow the flowers. These fruits measure about half an inch long. Garden plants seldom bear fruit. Their leaves and flowers thus provide most of their interest.

Grow this species in soil that drains well. Give it sun or part shade. It copes with shade, but more sun helps it flower. It accepts sand, loam, clay, and chalk. It also grows across a broad pH range. Once plants take root, they can cope with drought. North Carolina State lists USDA zones 7–9. RHS rates it H5. Use it in woodland gardens, borders, or coastal plantings. Its dense growth suits hedges and screens that give privacy. It accepts trimming, but blooms form on last season’s growth. Pruning can thus reduce the next show of flowers.

RHS reports few pest problems, though honey fungus may attack it. North Carolina State also lists scale insects as possible problems. Plants For A Future lists no known food or medicinal uses. It lists no known hazards, but this does not prove food safety. The same source reports no weed potential.