Delavay osmanthus

How to grow Delavay osmanthus

Written by the GardenDecoded editorial team · Last reviewed 21 July 2026 · Written for UK gardens · How we research our guidance

Planting

Best given shelter from cold drying winds, which brown the small evergreen leaves. Site it where the spring scent will be noticed — it carries a surprising distance for such small flowers.

Pruning

Trim straight after flowering. It clips well and makes a good informal hedge, but cutting later in the season removes the following spring's flower buds.

Propagation

Semi-ripe cuttings in late summer with bottom heat. They are slow but reasonably reliable.

Pests and diseases

Few problems. Scale insects occasionally, and leaf browning is usually wind scorch rather than disease.

Value to wildlife

Early nectar for bees at a time when little else is open.

Notes

Growth is slow, so buy the largest plant you can afford rather than expecting a small one to fill a space quickly.

This guidance was researched and written by GardenDecoded — see our editorial policy for how guides are checked and reviewed.

Other names for this plant

These names have all been used for Osmanthus delavayi but are no longer the accepted name. You may still meet them on old labels, in books, or in nursery catalogues.

Others in Osmanthus