Osmanthus x burkwoodii Flower (01/04/2012, London)
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Flowering period: Spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 3m
Eventual Spread: 3m
Hardiness: 7b – 9a
Family: Oleaceae
Osmanthus x burkwoodii is a rounded evergreen shrub . Its dark green leaves are glossy, ovate with fine dentate margins and are up to 5cm long. Its white, fragrant flowers are small with tubular, spreading lobes and are produced in axillary clusters. These are followed by small black berries in autumn.
Osmanthus x burkwoodii, commonly known as Burkwood Osmanthus, is a hybrid between Osmanthus decorus and Osmanthus delavay and was created in Burkwood Nursery, Surrey in 1930. O. x burkwoodii is synonymous with X Osmarea burkwoodii.
Osmanthus x burkwoodii (01/04/2012, London)
The etymological root of the binomial name Osmanthus is derived from the Greek osme ’perfume’ and anthus ’flower’. Burkwoodii is named after Burkwood Nursery, Surrey.
The landscape architect may find Osmanthus x burkwoodii useful as an effective evergreen hedging species. It will not tolerate exposed sites.
Ecologically, Osmanthus x burkwoodii is attractive to pollinating insects.
The Royal Horticultural Society has given O. x burkwoodii their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.
O. x burkwoodii prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil, including chalk. It will not tolerate waterlogged soils.
O. x burkwoodii requires little maintenance. If being maintained as a hedge, it should be pruned after flowering.
