Sweet Olive ‘Fudingzhu’ (Osmanthus fragrans)

This new cultivar of Sweet Olive is remarkable for its large, fragrant bloom clusters. It flowers so heavily that the blossoms totally encircle the branches, and the leaves seem to emerge from the large bunches of white fragrant flowers. Unlike the standard Osmanthus fragrans, a mature shrub of ‘Fudingzhu’s’ flowers are large enough to be seen from several hundred feet away! This variety reaches flowering size when only 6” tall and flowers from September to April. It can be grown outdoors in zones 7-9 and prefers full sun to partial shade with good drainage and average moisture. It also performs well as a container plant if grown in good light with cooler temperatures during the winter months. ‘Fudingzhu’ translates to “pearls on Buddha’s head.” The heady fragrance and magnitude of flower clusters will make ‘Fudingzhu’ one of your favorite plants.