Orange Tea Olive

What is the best way to propagate tea olive. This one is in full bloom right now and as soon as it stops I would like to take some cuttings. It is a large shrub and this is the first year it has been so full of blooms. Thanks for your help. Elaine

Hi Elaine

If I remember right Tea Olive works best with cuttings of new growth but I'll check my books today. Is the orange one as fragrant as the white?

Erin
also in T'ville
:)

Hi. No it doesn't seem to be. If you are near it you can smell it very well. But it seems that the white can be smelled further away. Thanks for replying. I am going to take some cuttings and see if I can get some started. Should I put it in a bubbler or root tone and into the soil? Elaine

Elaine

I checked a few sources- they agree that early fall is the best time to take cuttings, take semi-ripe nodal stem-tip cuttings or side shoot cuttings, with a heel if possible.

All 4 books said root-tone and soil but one mentioned rock-wool plugs w/bottom heat which suggests that the hydroponic method might work. I've never tried the bubbler but I know that a lot of DG'ers swear by it.

Please let me know how you do! lf you are successful I would love to know- I have several white tea olives but the orange sounds beautiful!

Erin

Erin, if I am successful I wil let you know and get one to you. I'm going to take several cuttings. Thank you for looking that up for me. Elaine.