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Fragrant Tea Olive
Fragrant Tea Olive botanical plate
Field guide plate · click to zoom

Fragrant Tea Olive

Osmanthus fragrans
In the United States: Cultivated · also called sweet olive, fragrant olive

Evergreen shrub or small tree with tiny, intensely fragrant white flowers that provide little to no nectar and are actively avoided by honeybees in favor of other forage. Main bloom occurs in autumn with possible scattered flowers through winter into spring; flowers are visited by thrips rather than bees. Requires well-drained soil and protection from harsh winter cold.

Nectarlow
Pollenlow
Bloom (US) September–April
Duration~2 months
TypePerennial
Sunpartial

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