When Does Osmanthus Burkwoodii Flower
This popular, rounded, evergreen shrub has glossy, finely toothed, dark green leaves beautifully offset by highly scented, jasmine like, white flowers in mid and late spring. In flower, it will light up a shady corner of the garden and as an evergreen, makes a lovely foil for other flowering plants and ferns.
Growing Osmanthus in pots is a joy, as the large, clumping spikes of new growth penetrate the soil almost like underground vines. Originally from Northern Africa, and sold in garden centers throughout the U.S. to prevent and treat colds and flu, Osmanthus is also widely used for decorative purposes in homes and landscapes because of its striking blooms, which often improve air quality and improve the look of well maintained beds, while making room for more plants. Growing in zones 6–7, O. profundifolia tolerates anywhere between full sun and partial shade and loves moisture. The plant needs at least 6 hours of daily watering but will gladly accept less, not becoming deformed if overwatered. There is an admirable “soil-loving element,” in that individual plants sometimes drop small clusters of flowers.
These can persist for several weeks. The large”leaves” are often seen whorling in the breeze, offering a casual visual to your garden or landscape. Osmanthus rosea variegata variegata is a hardy nursery plant, species to be around for many years to come. Seeds are available year-round for indoor and outdoor use. If placing outdoors, choose a sunny, well-drained spot with adequate sunlight, and keep the soil medium-moist. Water when the liquid level in the soil reaches the top of the leaves. If the soil dries up after a few weeks, replant the seedlings in the spring — new growth will continue to grow round the cut ends of the old growth for a few months. Frost will not affect the newly planted seedlings. Osmanthus profundifolia is an easy and rewarding indoor plant. It grows sleek, tall corymbs that prefer rich, moist soil but will happily accept slightly dry soil. High humidity is ideal. Water deeply but not excessively. Too much water often results in mould. Mist the root zone twice daily with water. In summer when the air is dry, place a cardboard box or water bed shingle over the soil surface to hold excess moisture until the soil warms in the morning. To care for this green scourge-like houseplant, simply watch the plant, drink your morning cup of coffee, change the water regularly, feed it moderately with a liquid feeding once or twice a week, but most importantly, REMEMBER to water it.
Osmanthus Fragrans Indoors in the Winter
The versatility of sumac is staggering. You can make a tea or syrup, add to salads, bake into a breadfruit, tuck into a fruity, silky smoothie, or add it to a cooler cocktail. The plant can also be eaten raw or cooked given time and allows you to seamlessly pair it with other plants for added flavor.
Osmanthus variegatus is a hardy plant in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9. Check out my full list of plant characteristics to determine what varieties might work for you.
Osmanthus fragrans is reasonably hardy to zone 3 on the east coast and USDA hardiness zone 6 in the central mountain regions. The plant can be warmed to at least 22ºC (70ºF) indoors for a few weeks in winter just by allowing it to get gradually drier.
Consider adapting it to the longer days and cooler, colder weather of the south. Osmanthus usually does quite well in climates with tolerable days and nights but will need more direct sunlight in more southern parts of its range.
Ever since my parents, Bobbie and Chris, passed away two decades ago, their story has remained etched in my memory. In keeping with their memory, I have wanted to memorialize the fragrant world that saw so many of us grow up in our small Vermont town. That story started when we moved to a new town. At the time, my father and I had a small fruit tree in our back yard, but getting it started cost a fortune. So, becoming the caretaker of that tree became one of the first tasks of my new position.
As those first days of winter crawled by, the days lengthened and the snow piled up. A snowstorm almost killed the plant in a downtown Burlington freezing rain if not for the passersby who stopped to help us tend to the fallen fruit. I was grateful they did. It took two people 20 minutes just to lift that 300 pound behemoth up out of the sidewalk. Eventually we named the treasured fruit the Motherlode, after my late parents. I brought her home to Chris, who named her after my mother. To this day, I realize it was poetic that two trees in our back yard bore the same name.
Chris planted her in the same pot she tended to for over 25 years. And two years ago, for the first time in decades, we experienced abundant fruit. Like a hand delivering a meal on a sunny, windy day, the fragrant flowers visited every nook and cranny.
The plant is adapted to areas from arid deserts to wet tropical forests. False docks bloom from March to May. Mature plants have graceful, lanceolate leaves wrapped in costly spagnum (honeydew). False dock is a powerful source of vitamins C and K and is a popular medicinal plant. One of the facts about dock is that it must be pruned back frequently to maintain its beauty and even these vigorous plants need trimming now and again. A Brazilian person calls docktops “the nectar of the gods”. This plant is extremely drought tolerant and tolerant to most acids.
However, despite its lovely fragrant blooms and obvious medicinal value, dock does require careful attention. The bark of false dock is poisonous and only the young leaves and young twigs should be eaten. Feed your new plant only the edible parts. Clear away any dead or dying foliage and cut back any regrowing new growth. Once established, dock will out-grow most watering for several weeks. This vigorous plant loves good air circulation in all seasons.
Though false dock is easy to grow, it is a serious bloomer. Flushed with new growth each year, this affords a great opportunity for new hobbyists to get their foot in the door of the bonsai community. With its trunk, shaped like a leaf and covered with minuscule white petals, this plant grows fast. A 4 foot tall plant outdoors in full sun will bloom 87% of the time. At least half of that growth happens in the summer. The same outdoor plant in filtered light will produce one flush every 10 days.
In cooler climates where dock isn’t as prone to blooming, care must be taken in order to encourage it to bloom. First of all wait for the growth to get big enough to warrant pulling out a twig to admire the closer view. Eventually, joy awaits when the petals open and begin to breathe scent rich air into the air. Keep your thumb over this growth as the new dead foliage begins to re-grow. If you snip the new growth while new growth is still forming, you may disturb the hormones of the plant causing premature bloom.
To identify false dock, look for the very young leaves which still have honeydew attached. Also, keep an eye on the trunk where the bloom of each new growth begins for excellent display. Unlike most conifers whose bonsai roots grow out from the trunk, false dock prefers soil made especially for bonsai.
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