Plant types

Plant styles

Planting conditions

Seasonal interest

Nurseries & Gardens

Photo by Wouter Hagens

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Osmanthus x burkwoodii

Also Known As

Osmanthus 'Burkwoodii'
x Osmarea burkwoodii
False Holly

Plant type

tree, shrub

size

H: 5'-8'
W: 6'-8'

planting zones

6a-9b

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Osmanthus x burkwoodii plant details

Osmanthus x burkwoodii is a moderate-growing, slow-growing broadleaf evergreen shrub or tree with green foliage. In spring white flowers emerge followed by blue fruit. Features glossy texture. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and even moisture water. Drought tolerant once established. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in average, clay, rich and well-drained soil.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Osmanthus x burkwoodii

Plant type: shrub or tree
Plant family: oleaceae
Foliage: evergreen green
Mature size: 6 FT - 8 FT - wide, 5 FT - 8 FT - tall
Flowers: white blooms in spring
Uses: easy-to-grow, fragrant, hedge, leathery leaves, screen, year round interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Osmanthus x burkwoodii

USDA Zones: 6a - 9b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: even moisture
Resistant to: deer
Soil needs: average, clay, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

The white, pretty, jasmine-like flowers of Osmanthus x burkwoodii have a sweet fragrance that carries for great distances in spring. The attractive dark colouring of this evergreen shrub makes it ideal as a background plant as a specimen or a hedge. Protect from cold winds which can scorch the foliage. Synonym: Osmarea x burkwoodii. Not always in stock but we offer it when we can.

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

This evergreen shrub blooms with white flowers in April. The small leaves almost totally disappear under the thousands of white flowers.

By: Gossler Farms

Easy to grow, evergreen shrub with bright green foliage and small, fragrant, white flowers in spring. Will make a terrific evergreen, medium sized hedge. This is a hybrid between Osmanthus delavayi and O. decorus, and is also known as Osmerea burkwoodii. Growth Rate slow

By: Garden World

A rare bigeneric cross between Osmanthus delavayi and Phillyrea vilmoriniana made before 1919 by Burkwood and Skipworth in England, milky white flowers are fragrant in axillary clusters of 5-7, foliage is glossy and evergreen.

By: Arrowhead Alpines

This hybrid osmanthus is the toughest of the bunch, an evergreen shrub, to 6-8 ft tall and wide, with long, finely tooth, shiny, leaves and, in late spring, white flowers that are intensely fragrant. Makes an excellent backbone shrub for sun to part shade in fertile, well-drained soil. Drought tolerant once established and accepting of summer water. Easy in the garden and reliably hardy, to -10F, USDA zone 6.

By: Cistus Nursery

Fragrant white flowers spring, Evergreen. Easily pruned for formal look or to manage size. Zones 7-9.

By: Lael's Moon Garden

Very fragrant, tubular white flowers appear in profuse clusters in mid and late spring. Glossy dark green, 2" long, oval, toothed leaves appear on a dense and rounded shrub. Rarely has fruit.

By: Greer Gardens Inc.

Fragrant white flowers in early spring against glossy dark green leaves. Great for a screen or hedge. Growth to 8 ft tall and wide, but takes shaping very well.