Plant Details

Osmanthus fragrans

Fragrant Olive

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Common names

23 names · 16 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Fragrant Olive[1]
  • Sweet olive[1]
  • Tea Olive[1]
Other languages (15)
Dutch
  • Zoete osmanthus
French
  • Olivier de Chine[1]
  • Olivier odorant[1]
  • Olivier à thé[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Osmanthe parfumé[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • vonokvětka libovonná[1]
German
  • Süße Duftblüte[1]
Italian
  • Osmanto odoroso[1]
Japanese
  • モクセイ[1]
Korean
Portuguese
  • Flor-do-imperador[1]
  • Jasmim-do-imperador[1]
Russian
  • Османтус душистый[1]
Slovak
  • osmant voňavý[1]
Swedish
  • tedoftbuske[1]
Thai
  • หอมหมื่นลี้[1]
Turkish
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Osmanthus fragrans — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Sweet olive — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.
  • Fragrant olive — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.
  • 桂花 — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.
  • 木犀 — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.
  • Tea Olive — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.
  • Süße Duftblüte — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.
  • モクセイ — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.
  • vonokvětka libovonná — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.
  • 木樨 — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.
  • osmantus — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.
  • 목서 — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.
  • หอมหมื่นลี้ — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.
  • Османтус душистый — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.
  • Olivier odorant — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.
  • Osmanthe parfumé — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.
  • Olivier de Chine — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.
  • Olivier à thé — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.
  • Jasmim-do-imperador — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.
  • Flor-do-imperador — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.
  • tedoftbuske — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.
  • Osmanto odoroso — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.
  • osmant voňavý — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 371103; Osmanthus fragrans.

General information

Scientific name: Osmanthus fragrans
Accepted name (Kew): Osmanthus fragrans Lour. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Oleaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Osmanthus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Fragrant Olive
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Medium
Height: 3.05–6.1 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Spread: 3.05–4.27 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [2]
Foliage: Evergreen
Sources [2]
Growth habit: Dense, Erect, Multi-stemmed, Rounded

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [2]
Soil:
Clay
Sources [2]
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Condiment, Tea
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Repellent

Description

The unripe fruits are preserved as olives in brine. The strongly scented flowers are used by the Chinese to give a pleasant aroma to tea, wine, and sweet dishes like lotus seed soup, pastries, and steamed pears. They are also used in herbal medicine to mask unpleasant flavors. The flowers emit a scent that resembles apricots.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/10
Harvest ends: 31/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 330682; name ID 355236; Osmanthus Lour.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1201872; name ID 354988; Osmanthus fragrans Lour..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Osmanthus fragrans — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 14 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .