Common Name: Fragrant Olive

General Information

Osmanthus fragrans is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing around 3 - 5 metres tall, occasionally reaching up to 10 metres[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for use as a food, medicine and source of essential oil. It is also often cultivated, mainly as an ornamental, but also for its several uses. The fragrant flowers are sometimes available in Oriental stores, preserved in sweetened brine or as a sugary paste called 'cassia blossom jam'[]. The plant is commonly grown for these flowers in gardens in India, southeast and eastern Asia[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - China, Japan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand.

Habitat

Mountains of S. Japan[]. 1200 - 2100 metres in the Himalayas[]. Forests, in association with Ilex dipyrena and Castanopsis spp, at elevations of 1300 - 3000 metres in Nepal[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	4.50 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Osmanthus fragrans is a plant mainly of the subtropics, cultivated in many tropical and werm temperate areas for its highly fragrant flowers. Given hot summers, it has moderate resistance to frost, with selected forms able to withstand occasional temperatures down to around -10°c[].
Easily grown in any moist but well-drained soil in sun or part shade[, , ], but flowering more freely in a sunny position[]. Thrives in chalky conditions[]. Plants can succeed in heavy clays and are drought resistant once established[]. Dislikes unduly exposed positions[], and requires shelter from freezing winds[].
The flowers are very fragrant[]. A powerful fragrance of apricots[].

Edible Uses

The unripe fruits are preserved in brine like olives[]. The purple-black, ellipsoid, oblique fruit is around 10 - 15mm long[].

The very fragrant flowers are used by the Chinese to impart a pleasant aroma to tea, wine and sweet dishes such as lotus seed soup, pastries and steamed pears[, , , ]. They are also added to herbal medicines in order to disguise obnoxious flavours[]. The flowers have a scent of apricots[].

An essential oil from the flowers is used as a flavouring in foods[].

A decoction of the whole plant, with red sugar, is eaten raw or in soup as a famine food[]. (Not sure how a decoction is eaten raw[])

Medicinal

The flowers are antiseptic, antitussive[]. They are used in cosmetics for the hair and skin, but are mostly used to impart a pleasant flavour to other medicines[, ].
The flowers are fragrant, pungent in taste, and warm in property[]. The flower functions in dispelling cold and dissipating stagnation, resolving phlegm, and stopping coughing and is often used for treatment of toothache, cough, asthma, phlegm, and abdominal pain[, ].

The fruits are pungent and sweet in taste, warm in property[]. The fruit functions in warming the stomach, calming the liver, and dispersing cold and is often used for treatment of stomachache due to deficiency and cold[].

A decoction of the stem bark is used in the treatment of boils, carbuncles etc[]. A past made from the stem or bark is used in the treatment of boils, carbuncles, whooping cough and retinitis[].

The roots are sweet and astringent in taste, neutral in property[]. The root functions in dispelling wind dampness and cold and is often used for treatment of stomach ache, rheumatism, lumbago, aching muscles and toothache due to kidney deficiency[, ].
A decoction of the lateral roots is used in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea, rheumatism, bruises etc[].

A decoction of the whole plant, with red sugar, is used in the treatment of digestive system disorders and fever; and as a poultice against traumatic injuries[]

The juiced leaves are used as a treatment against fevers and colds[].

The flowers yield an oil containing oleanolic and urosolic acids, betasitosterol, glycosides and a wax(0.04%) composed mainly of triacontane[].
The extract of dried flowers showed neuroprotective, free-radical scavenging, antioxidative effects in in vitro assays[]
The leaves are reported to contain a phillyrin-like glycoside[].

Other Uses

An essential oil is obtained from the flowers[]. Highly esteemed for a variety of perfumes[]. The essential oil contains unpleasant polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons which reduce its quality[].
The flowers are used in cosmetics for the hair and skin[].

The flowers are antiseptic and insecticidal. They are used as a repellent for protecting clothes from insects[, , ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a coldframe[]. Stored seed probably germinates best if it is given 3 months warm then 3 months cold stratification before sowing[]. The seed usually takes 6 - 18 months to germinate, it should be pricked out into individual pots when it is large enough to handle. Grow the plants on for their first winter in the greenhouse and plant them out in early summer.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood taken at the end of July, in a frame with bottom heat[].
Cuttings of almost ripe wood, 7 - 12cm with a heel, September/early autumn in a cold frame. A good percentage. Plant out in the spring 18 months later[].
Layering in spring[] or autumn[]. Partially sever the layer leads in the following late summer and plant out in the autumn. High percentage[].