Osmanthus Seeds - Evergreen Flowering Shrub
Osmanthus fragrans / Olea fragrans
 
*  Common Names = Osmanthus / Tea Olive / Sweet Olive / Fragrant Tea Olive / Sweet Olive / Gui Hua
*  Drought-tolerant and repels insects
*  Evergreen shrub keeps glossy green foliage all year long
*  Unripe fruits are preserved in brine, like olives
*  Apricot-scented flowers are used in tea, wine, soups and pastries
*  Used in herbal remedies - TCM herb known as Gui Hua
*  Bark is used as an anti-inflammatory for boils and carbuncles
*  Essential oils are made from flowers for hair & skin cosmetics
*  Can be container-bound to keep indoors
 
[ The dried flowers are also available in the shop, when stock is plentiful. ] 
 
Life Cycle:  Deciduous
Height:  15-20 ft  (unless container-bound indoors)
Max Width:  15 ft
USDA Zone:  7-11  (unless grown indoors)
Light:  Full Sun / Partial Sun
Harvest:  Flowers in 3 years

GROWING RECOMMENDATIONS:
1.  Pour warm water over seeds and soak for 24 hours. Wrap seeds in a paper towel soaked with 1 part peroxide/5 parts water. Keep moist in ziplock bag and cold-stratify in fridge or cold-frame for 8 weeks.
2.  Sow 1/2" deep in pots with moistened seed-starting mix. Place in warm indirect sunlight and keep soil moist. Germination will occur in 6-8 weeks. 
3.  Resize into bigger pots as needed. Transplant established plants to their permanent location after last frost (or grow indoors in large containers). Protect young plants during the first few winters.