Hello everyone
I have been reading the fragrant flowers forum with great interest since I am crazy for fragrant plants (but have very few). One fragrant plant that seemed to be mentioned and admired by many was the tea olive bush. So, I bought 4. They have tiny white blooms but no fragrance. Has anyone else had this problem? I am so dissappointed.
Tea Olives no Fragrance?
Have you tried "sniffing" at various times of day. That may sound silly and I don't recall that being applicable to Tea Olives but some plant's fragrance varies with time of day. I didn't find the Tea Olives to have a wafting scent but certainly a pleasant one.
yes, i have tried several times during the day and I only receive a very slight fragrance if I put my nose directly on the bloom. From previous descriptions I thought it would be wafting like my gardina bush. Can you recommend a bush that would give that type of intense fragrance?
Mine is the same as yours, Judy - may have something to do with our high humidity.
I've had the same thing, Judyrosebud. I planted mine last year; they were about 5 feet tall. No blooms (that I could noticed anyway) in that year, but just in the last couple of weeks I found the little flowers. Just like you, I had to get right up next to them to find the smell. I guess my hope is that since this plant grows big, maybe when it's larger the sheer volume of the flowers will create more fragrance... That will be an extreme case of Delayed Fragrance Gratification.
The shrub in my yard that is really sending out a beautiful fragrance right now is eleagnus. It's another very tiny, hidden flower, but the smell is wonderful-- and widespread. Bush honeysuckle does the same thing in the Spring. (Lonicera Fragrantissima)
I was reading an article recently on Tea Olives and discovered there was more than one type and some types are not very fragrant. I need to try and find the article because I did not write down the proper name. Apparently, I have the non-fragrant verity:( I will check out the eleagnusl that you mentioned, never heard of that one before.
I have never ad tea olive to be a great one for fragrance. I do have an orange one that smells wonderful but doesn't last long. 2 weeks and flowers and smell is gone. Beautiful orange color tho. Does anyone take cuttings and have success? Elaine
Judyrosebud, there was a wonderful article about the different tea olive varieties in a very recent Dave's Garden newsletter. I'll look back and see if I can find the link. There were lots of different varieties.
My trees have a serrated edge on the leaves, but some of the others were smooth. I'll have to look back at the article to see which variety the author says is most fragrant. It's too late for me, for I have already gotten the plants established and don't have a place for more...
When I've read posts from people that have experienced wonderful fragrance from tea olive trees, I'm pretty sure some of them were from Louisiana.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/2677/
"Sweet Olive, an Evergreen Shrub with Fragrant Flowers" by Marie Harrison (can2grow) , Nov. 2nd newsletter.
The article gives great information on the different varieties of tea or sweet olives. But, going back to the basic question of Osmanthus fragrans....For plants that are of this species and are labeled Osmanthus fragrans, do they have varying strength of fragrance from plant to plant? Or all they all supposed to smell similar? So if it is supposed to be very fragrant, and I come across one that is not, does it mean that it may be mislabelled? Or is it a common thing for some to be very fragrant, and others not? Is some of that dependent on care, soil, temperature, etc? I have always wanted one of these plants, but since the plant itself is nondescript, and the flowers very tiny, I would be buying it mainly for the fragrance. But if it turns out to be not fragrant, then I would much rather have another plant. Is there a variety of Osmanthus fragrans that is more fragrant, and I should be looking for a more specific name? Thanks for any further information anyone can supply!
It seems to me that the first yr growing Tea olives, I didn't detect any fragrance. But in subsequent years, it has been a wonderful experience.
Soilsandup, you are totally right that shrub itself is what most people will call common looking and flowers are insignificant. Yet, that is precisely why it appeals to me. How cool is it to have a nondescript plant that is so deliciously fragrant. The casual stroller smells the heavenly scent, looks around and there's nothing but an ordinary looking shrub. Very sneaky, lol.
I wonder if different soils might have an effect on fragrance strength. It happens that a rose in my garden will be fragrant to the point of nauseating me, and in my friend's garden it will barely smell. Why? Dunno. Could be the same w/ other plants. I do know time of day is also a factor. One has to research the individual plant and learn whether it releases the scent in early am, evening, etc.
Judy, don't give up on the tea olive. It might be a little slow, but when it finally decides to put on a show, you will be sooooo glad.
I bought a tea olive last year. I have sandy soil in my yard. I put some amendments in when I planted it and its looking like its on deaths door. Do these do well in pots? I've had other things in the ground with the same problem and put them in pots and now they look so much better.
Darla
don't grow any in pots, so I can't comment on that. All mine are inground but I have lost a few and I'm suspecting it was due to insufficient water. They need regular moisture while getting established, anywhere from 1-6 months. Then they seem to do well with rain, unless we experience droughts. then I provide suppl. water.
Thanks for the info vossner. There is one remaining plant at our local Home Depot for $17.97 last weekend. I may go and buy it after all if it is still there. I bought some white bird of paradise, but got home and read that they are HUGE plants. I should return those, and exchange them for the tea olive.
Ok...and I've heard (ugh) that they die quicker from TOO much water. All I know is I've now killed everyone that I had except the one from Lowes...that was all but dead...realized it was getting too much sun...put her on the deck (north side of townhouse) and ignored her. Wouldn't you know she's putting out leaves now?!? Crazy plant!
C, I was going to put at an APB on you. where have u been???? I think the T. olives do well in sun also. Mine happen to be in part shade (or it is part sun?) b/c that's where I wanted the frag.
I don't think they're particularly thirsty plants, but they need some attention those 1st weeks after planting. Then, they're rather low maint.
I may pull what is left of mine out of the ground and try to resuscitate it in a pot for the winter. See if I can save it. Then find another place for it. It obviously didn't like it were I had it.
Darla
LOL - just been busy working both jobs...you know how life gets in the way some times. How've YOU been!???
My understanding with the Tea Olives is - part sun...obviously the full sun cooked mine (my bad...I should've paid better attention) - hoping this one will do well for me and keeping fingers crossed I didn't grab one of the ones ya'll are talking about no scent...how sad would that be? I really about ready to order one again from that NC nursery...those were so big and healthy - just don't know what I did wrong...the scent was amazing....really, really liked it....
Chantell - could you tell me which NC nursery you ordered from? Mine is currently blooming but scent is insignificant. I am determined to have that scent in my yard.
I wish there was more info for you from here, however, all four of mine were from Walmart, 1 gal pots and they're about 5-6' tall now. Three are in a shady area and bloom nicely, one is below the deck and blooms profusely (in months with an "R" in them). The first year of blooms while walking around my wooded area, a delicious scent came to me on the breeze and it was one of them. As Vossner says "a very sneaky one"!! They are also easy to care for, I've never fed mine, just watching immediately after planting making sure they're watered, etc.
This message was edited Dec 3, 2009 7:38 AM
I need to get another one. Mine must not have liked the spot I put it in and has died. boohoo!
Darla
I have a huge one by the back door that we planted maybe 23 yrs ago and is close to 20' high, and it blooms several times a year. Its blooming right now, but I think the cold is blocking/subdueing (is that a word? lol) the scent. I have noticed that sometimes I can smell it and sometimes I can't. Sometimes people ask me "what is that wonderful smell?" and I have to look and see if its in bloom and then tell them what it is. I don't know why it sometimes smells and sometimes not when its in bloom, except that I think the temps have something to do with it.
I think the issue is going to be too much moisture or humidity. Many fragrant blooms and fragrant foliage plants lose their scent when recently watered. It comes back when dried out.
Yes, they will grow and bloom in pots. Mine has been potted for quite a few years only because I can't decide where I want it. I waited for a work crew to reroof and now think I know but we're doing other construction so will wait. Besides, I'm way too lazy!
When first in a pot, mine grew a white fungus on the leaves. That was a fungus caused from overwatering and lack of air circulation. I backed off and it backed off.
In my experience with moisture, I would say if you plant in ground, amend the soil for faster drainage. And the location I have the pot sitting and will plant in is in morning sun, aftenoon shade. Seems to work.
How big did you say these can get? 20' ? Maybe I need to rethink that location ~ lol
Judy - I am SO sorry for taking so long to get back to you. I've not been on DG for weeks (a record for me). Here is the link to the nursery I was referring to: http://www.nurcar.com/
LOL I'm for ANY helpful hints to keep these babies alive. The one that looks like it's come back from the dead was a Home Depot/Lowes find...had not bloomed so I don't know if it's a keeper or not. I plan on ordering from the Nurseries Caroliniana nursery again - for sure!!
Thanks Chantell, I am contemplating buying the "fudingzhu" variety but shipping is almost as much as the plant. I will need to think about this a little bit longer. Wish we had a nusery here that had a good selection of fragrant plants
It would be nice to see a bunch at one place. Here everything is so spread out. Where abouts in Jax are you? I'm at the area of St Johns bluff and Ft Caroline.
Darla
Mandarin
Aloha,
I have read this thread with great interest. About 30 years ago I discovered an osmanthus fragrans hedge in the Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University. The scent defies description--beyond heavenly. The flowers were so small that they were barely visible even upon close inspection. If I had to describe their color I would have to say brown. Since then I have looked everywhere and have been unable find one like it. I have written to the garden's director who was unable to name the cultivar. The plants I have seen for sale which were labeled osmanthus fragrans weren't anything like the one at Duke University--larger flowers, different fragrance. What I wouldn't give for the fragrance of that shrub at Duke!
koa
koa, could it be possible that somewhere hidden from your view, there was a fresh white bloom w/ the delicious fragrance, but your eyes landed on a spent, therefore brown bloom?
I know there is a variety with an orange bloom but not brown, or tan.
Mine are about 10% in bloom and just from that little bit, the area around my front door is divine. this heaven will continue til March. At that point i will trim them as I'm growing them as shrubs, not trees. Don't want my windows blocked.
Vossner,
I spent about 15 minutes scouring the area for anything that looked like a blossom, and no, no white or orange blossoms were to be found. The blossoms I found were not spent blooms, just very small brownish/tan flowers that smelled heavenly. I'm sure it is an osmanthus fragrans because the id came from the garden director. I have seen similar flowers on others plants, though I can't name one at the moment. You are very fortunate to have one with divine fragrance. I'm envious. What variety are you growing?
Aloha