The Osmanthus Burkwoodii Can Be Propagated by Seed or Cuttings
Osmanthus Burkwoodii, or the common sweet olive, are flowering shrubs originally from Southeast Asia. The flowers are white with a powerful, sweet, fruity fragrance. The shrubs are evergreen and grow best in full sun or light shade. They can be propagated by seed or cuttings.
When to Transfer to Soil
When a rootstock (seedling) is about to root itself it can sometimes become dry. It will need to have either a moist or dry period after planting, depending on environmental conditions. Then, they can be spaced or grown individually for a number of years until it fully develops. However, if it becomes dormant, it will become much larger than an Osmanthus plant would naturally grow when transplanted. An illustration of this can be seen in this video (see below) and in the chart at the bottom of the page. Then, transfer the plant to your container.
The Osmanthus can also be grown in a seed tray using a seedling. You will have to plant a small number of Osmanthus seedlings as the soil is sandy in Ontario and Manitoba. You will also need to water them regularly so they won’t crowd each other out as they grow. For seedlings, the soil should be moist at the beginning as this will increase the chances of germination. For more information, see the “Root-Stabilising Soil” page on the Osmanthus website at the main Osmanthus home page, linked below.
Planting Your Cuttings: The Osmanthus Burkwoodii in the Fall
The Osmanthus Burkwoodii requires a warm growing season. The warm summer months in the middle of the day during September and early October may be too warm, or just too short for the cuttings to live through. For this reason, cuttings should be allowed to form at least once every three years to ensure long-term survival of the plant. It is easiest to start new cuttings in fall from an active cuttings pile or from the stem base in spring. Propagation from stem base takes more time.
After the top of the stems are dead back from spring growth, they can be cut at this time using a sharp kitchen knife. Cut stems 1 1/2 to 2 inches shorter than the final plant dimensions. This way the plant is not too small to survive, but will grow well. You may have to cut down some of the mother plant to get the exact stem length needed. With the mother plant growing, use the knife to make a series of smaller cuts that run horizontally across the mother. When the blades of the knife bend, they mark the new stem. Use only the lowest cut to make the plant shorter. As you cut these small cuts all along the mother stem, you will remove the entire mother plant, including the mother roots. When the cutting is small enough, cut the mother plant in half through the leafy portion and place the cut end of each half together, close to the base of the cut and against the mother plant.
When the cutting is of an adequate size that is longer than you would like, pull the stem close enough to the ground to make a tight clump, but do not cut it. Place the clump along the
What to do When You Welcome New Buds
Your best chance of obtaining Osmanthus is through purchase, but if you’re lucky, you might stumble across a wild specimen in your travels. There are thousands of varieties of the lily, and some have better-than-average bloom displays. The buds of Osmanthus vary widely in size, but a good rule of thumb is that when you look down at the stalk, it should be about six inches tall and three inches across. In winter, they can be cuttings or clippings from the main stem that are used in a pot or two- to three-inch pot so that you can transplant individual bulbs into pots. When the pots are transplanted outside into a pot of soil for the spring planting, the individual plants are planted about an inch into the soil. Once these are done, you wait for the soil to warm up, and then you let the plants sit in the sun until the growing season is over. You’ll need to remove the dead plant, but the rest of the plant will make another year’s worth of growth. As far as your growing room is concerned, these are plants that you’re just going to keep on your desk.
If you want or need to get them started, try planting them in a pot of soil. After the foliage dies back after you remove the plant, you can transplant the plant into a bigger pot. Once it looks healthy, you can pull out the old plant and then start fresh. Don’t forget that after you make sure the ground is thoroughly moistened and the plant is healthy, you can dig a trench around the plant so that you can dig the roots out of the soil and pot so easily. Take several spadefuls and place it under the plant to help you break it up.
