Osmanthus fragrans

[Mike Prager]

I wonder if anyone reading this has had experience with Osmanthus fragrans in U.S. zone 8. The books I'm consulting say it is hardy into zone 7 and that it can be damaged by temperatures lower than 0F (-18C).

However, here in zone 8, ours is badly affected nearly every winter and spring by temperatures rarely below 20F (-7C), and never lower than 12F (-11C). Annually, it suffers extensive twig and leaf damage. It's unsightly, and what is worse, we scarcely get any flowers.

I am planning to remove it. Is it possible that another specimen would do better in this spot? (It would have to be the species, as no local nurseries have named cultivars.) Or should I give up on this entirely?

By the way, O. x fortunei is doing quite well, nearby.

Mike Prager On the North Carolina coast - Zone 8a (Remove spam traps from email address to reply.)

[Newt]

Hi Mike,

What are the sun conditions where it's planted? It doesn't like ver sandy soil. I'm thinking since you live on the coast, maybe it i getting burned by the winter sun.

you want fragrance and what height and width will the spac accomadate?

New

-- Newt

[Mike Prager]

Newt,

The soil is sandy, but good enough so that most everything else does fine. That includes camellias, azaleas, crape myrtles, privet, abelia, loropetalum, six viburnum species, and indeed O. fortunei.

I can't rule out winter sun as the problem, but my thought it's that we often have warm winters that very suddenly turn quite cold and damage the plant before it has gone dormant. The same thing happens in spring: it weather can get warm and then suddenly go well below freezing. The almost constant wind in the site does not help.

We would like fragrance (and freedom from spraying). The site will accommodate a shrub about 8 ft wide by 12 or more ft tall. It is not far from a large doublefile viburnum 'Shasta'. That has a strong horizontal form, and I was looking for something vertical in the spot now filled by the Osmanthus.

We have winter honeysuckle on the other side of the driveway, but I don't want one in this spot.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Mike Prager On the North Carolina coast - Zone 8a (Remove spam traps from email address to reply.)

[Newt]

Mike, you might find this site helpful. Click on 'Fragrant' on th right and it lists trees, shrubs, etc. When you want more detaile info, go to

and put in the botanical name and click o 'Images' for more pics. Let me know what you come up with that migh tickle your fancy.

-- Newt