Osmanthus

Our collection from Longshou in Sichuan where this was a small 3'-4' rounded shrub in full exposure eking out a living on a small rock face. This is a little different than what is in cultivation as the leaves appear to have a higher degree of fine dentition on the margins and the white flowers are bunched in tubular clusters. This will be a good tough and deer resistant plant.

The devilish trident form leaves of this Japanese cultivar brought to the US by Barry Yinger have that alluring femme fatale combination of danger and beauty. While the name translates to bamboo leaf referring to its resemblance to trifoliate bamboos the latter would certainly have far less of a presence in human culture if they were as unfriendly as this impostor. Think of the screening you could make to keep those pesky neighborhood kids from tromping on your tender goodies. Comes with all the traits you expect from Osmanthus, tough, easy, fragrant flowering. One of the coolest in a vast sea of cultivars.

Fragrant Princess False Holly or so the translation goes. You cannot help but like this diminutive version with its deep green miniature hollyesque leaves and its scented typical Osmanthus-sized white flowers. This grows ridiculously slow and should you live long enough, plan on having a garden party when your aged Fragrant Princess reaches 3 feet tall. On second thought, better plan on that party when she reaches 2 feet.