Osmanthus x burkwoodii AGM

Burkwood osmanthus

The genus Osmanthus belongs in the olive family (Oleaceae) whose members also include lilac, forsythia and jasmine; and the epithet refers to the nurserymen and brothers Arthur and Albert Burkwood who, in the first half of the twentieth century bred improved varieties of certain of their favourite shrubs. One of the parents of O x burkwoodii is O. delavayi; as you would expect, they look pretty similar but the latter has gently serrated leaves.

This is a hardy, slowish growing, and long lived evergreen shrub whose tidy, dark green leaves are a perfect foil for the pure white flowers which appear from mid-March through to April. These are highly fragrant and you will catch wafts of the delicious scent on the air as you walk nearby.

However you prune this shrub it is important to do it immediately after flowering. Unrestricted, it can grow to a height of fifteen feet but please don’t gasp in horror and stop reading as this is a highly adaptable shrub and there are several alternative ways to grow it. If space is at a premium then by all means get out the loppers to keep it within bounds, or you might remove the lower branches and grow it as a small tree, it also makes an attractive, informal hedge. 

I am tempted to have a go at cloud pruning to create a horticultural showstopper – watch this space! Osmanthus flower on old wood and therefore they obviously produce more flowers if they are left unpruned. For a year or two you will lose flowers on a pruned shrub but in the long run you will get more. 

It’s all a matter of trial and error!

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