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Cane Row Nursery
Orange Sweet Olive
Orange Sweet Olive
$15.99 USD
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Preorder Item - Available for Pickup after August 21, 2026
Orange Sweet Olive (Osmanthus fragrans f. aurantiacus) is a rare, evergreen, fragrant shrub/small tree grown for its clusters of orange to apricot-colored flowers and powerful perfume. This is the classic “Orange Tea Olive” / “Orange Sweet Olive” — an upgraded twist on the usual white-flowering sweet olive.
The blooms are small but intensely fragrant, appearing in late summer to fall, and in mild climates they may bloom off and on in multiple seasons. The scent is often compared to ripe peaches or apricots, making this an excellent choice for near patios, porches, walkways, and entryways where you can really enjoy the fragrance.
Orange Sweet Olive matures into a dense, upright evergreen shrub or small tree, generally around 10–15 feet tall and 6–8 feet wide under good conditions — tall enough for a fragrant screen or hedge, but still manageable for home landscapes.
The foliage is glossy, leathery, dark green, providing year-round structure even when it’s not in bloom. Once established, it’s long-lived, low-maintenance, and quite adaptable, handling a range of well-drained soils (including clay) and typical garden conditions in its hardiness range.
If you want a plant that quietly sits in the background most of the time and then suddenly perfumes the whole area when it blooms, Orange Sweet Olive is a go-to.
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Key Features
• Evergreen shrub/small tree – keeps its leaves year-round
• Fragrant orange to apricot blooms with a sweet, fruity scent
• Flowers primarily in late summer to fall, with possible repeat flushes in mild climates
• Typically 10–15 ft tall x 6–8 ft wide at maturity (can be kept smaller with pruning)
• Excellent as a hedge, screen, specimen, or container patio plant
• Low maintenance and adaptable once established
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Growing Details
• Botanical Name: Osmanthus fragrans f. aurantiacus
• Common Names: Orange Sweet Olive, Orange Tea Olive, Orange Osmanthus, Sweet Olive
• Type: Evergreen broadleaf shrub / small tree
• Mature Size: About 10–15 ft tall and 6–8 ft wide, depending on climate and pruning
• Hardiness: Generally USDA Zones 7–10 (best in areas with mild winters)
• Light Requirements: Full sun to part shade; in hotter climates, some afternoon shade helps prevent leaf scorch, but flowering is strongest with good light
• Soil: Prefers well-drained soil; adapts to various soil types, including sandy loam and clay, as long as drainage is adequate
• Water: Moderate watering; keep evenly moist while establishing, then water deeply but less frequently once rooted in
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• Bloom Time: Primarily late summer to fall; may bloom intermittently in other seasons in mild climates
• Flower Color & Fragrance: Small orange to deep apricot flowers with intense, sweet, fruity fragrance
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Landscape Uses
• Fragrant hedge or screen along property lines, patios, or pools
• Foundation plant near entries or windows
• Specimen plant near walkways or outdoor seating to enjoy the scent
• Container plant for patios and porches (in colder zones, can be grown in a pot and wintered in a protected space)
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