Plant profile
Botanical name: Osmanthus burkwoodii
German name: Spring scented blossom
Family: Oleaceae (olive tree family)
Flowering time: April and May
Blossoms: White colour, sweet and strong fragrance
Foliage: Evergreen
Growth habit: Medium-height ornamental shrub
Origin: China
Close-up of the spring fragrant blossom
The evergreen and hardy plant attracts attention from afar, as the large number of snow-white and delicate flowers create a striking floral splendour. The dark green leaves have an elliptical shape and, with a length of two to four cm each, they surround the white flowers.
As a fragrant plant, it exudes a sweet scent that gently caresses the nose. The fragrant scent of the flowers also gave the plant its name. The name osmanthus is made up of the words osme and anthos, meaning fragrance and flower.
Spring fragrant blossom in the garden design
Osmanthus burkwoodii feels most at home in a well-drained, nutrient- and humus-rich soil. The shrub also prefers a sunny to semi-shady location that is ideally protected from icy winds. The spring fragrant flower is generally an extremely robust plant that is hardly susceptible to pests and diseases. This makes it one of the easier plants to care for in the garden.
Due to its growth height of three metres and a growth width of one metre, it is suitable for smaller gardens and can also be used as a hedge screen.
The shape of the plant can be customised to meet every wish. As a slow-growing plant, it retains the desired shape after pruning. It also makes a first-class impression in containers with its glossy, dark green leaves.
