Sasaba Bamboo Leaf Tea Olive

Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Sasaba‘

Other Names: Ivy Leaf Tea Olive, Spiky Fragrant Tea Olive, Holly Osmanthus, False Holly, Holly Tea Olive

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-10b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub

Height at Maturity: 8-10′

Width at Maturity: 6-10′

Spacing: 4-5′ for solid hedges; 10′ or more for space between plants

Flower Color: White

Flower Size: Small, in clusters

Flowering Period: Fall

Flower Type: Single in small clusters

Fragrant Flowers: Yes!

Foliage Color: Dark Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Full Sun to Part Shade. Might appreciate some shade or filtered sun in the midafternoon in hot-summer climates

Water Needs: Average; moderate drought tolerance when established

Soil Type: Clay (amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained

Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.5 (Moderately Acid to Slightly Alkaline)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Cold Temperatures (-10F), Deer – more info, Drought (moderate when established), Heat, Humidity, Insect

Description

An outstanding evergreen flowering shrub in more ways than one, Sasaba Bamboo Leaf Tea Olive provides amazingly unique foliage and wonderful fragrance. “Bamboo Leaf” in the common name refers to the tight bunches of highly ornamental, deeply lobed evergreen leaves similar in appearance to young bamboo leaves. We think the leaves look more like needle point ivy so we’ve always called this selection ‘Ivy Leaf Tea Olive.’ As with other tea olives, fall brings abundant clusters of tiny white flowers with a wonderfully sweet, fresh fragrance permeating the garden. A little slower growing than other tea olive varieties, Sasaba might add 6 to 10 inches or so in size per year naturally forming an upright, dense, rounded to conical shrub to 8 to 10 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide when all grown up. As it grows taller lower branches can be removed to form a highly attractive small tree. Easy to grow and very low maintenance, this beauty is a must for those that enjoy unique and unusual plants with loads of sensory appeal.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 8 to 10 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide with full-bodied foliage in an upright rounded conical form, the Sasaba Bamboo Leaf Tea Olive is ideal for use as a focal point specimen or in groupings or as an informal hedge in landscape borders and home foundation planting. As it grows taller lower branches can be removed to form an attractive small tree that serves well as an eye-catching specimen. Also excellent for growing in pots, planters and other containers. A fine addition to fragrance and sensory gardens, holly gardens and Asian gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 4 to 5 feet apart for solid hedges; 10 feet or more apart for space between plants.

Growing Preferences

Sasaba Bamboo Leaf Tea Olive is easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained soil of average fertility and full sun to part shade. That said, hot summer climates it might appreciate some shade or filtered sun during the mid-afternoon hours. Maintenance is minimal; requiring little if any pruning to keep its dense, rounded form. That said, it responds well to pruning for hedges and shaping purposes or to form a small tree. It’s also disease, fungus, and pest resistant. Constantly soggy or wet soils can be problematic. Just make sure to plant it in a well-drained site.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Osmanthus and False Holly shrubs.

How To Plant A Tea Olive

How To Fertilize A Tea Olive

How To Prune Prune A Tea Olive Shrub Or Tree

Plant Long & Prosper!

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