<h1>Tea Olive, Osmanthus fragrans</h1>

Tea olive is just another common name for Osmanthus fragrans, the same plant also called sweet olive, sweet osmanthus, and fragrant olive.

Here’s a focused snapshot on the tea olive:

Type: Evergreen shrub or small tree (can be trained as a hedge or specimen).

Height/Spread: 10–20 ft tall, 6–10 ft wide in the landscape.

Leaves: Thick, leathery, dark green, opposite on the stem.

Flowers: Tiny but extremely fragrant, white to pale yellow (sometimes orange in certain varieties).

Bloom time: Late summer into fall, and in mild climates it may bloom in spring as well.

Fragrance: Strongly sweet and fruity, often compared to apricots, peaches, or jasmine.

Hardiness: USDA zones 7–10 (can handle brief cold snaps but not prolonged freezing).

Uses:

Ornamental hedges or specimen trees

Fragrant garden focal points near patios or entryways

Flowers used in traditional Chinese osmanthus tea and sweets