Osmanthus Delavayi
Our Osmanthus Delavayi performed well enough grown in a container in Aberdeen. Overwintering it in the greenhouse was unnecessary.
Here in our Cheshire front garden, we have just planted it directly into one of the borders. I have to admit this plant has performed better in its new location. Its more robust in appearance, flowers are more profuse and a warm late March morning gave the opportunity for the first time to experience the very pleasant sweet fragrance.
To be quite honest, the Winter has been exceptionally mild, even in Aberdeen, and its performance further north may well have been just as good as it has been here.
The slow growing evergreen Osmanthus Delavayi has small glossy dark green serrated leaves and in March/April the arching stems are smothered in fragrant, small white blooms. Whilst in flower the habit resembles that of Spiraea Arguta.
I mention the slow growing habit, as some may be put off by the fact that it can grow to a height of fifteen feet. I would honestly ignore this as its quite simple to keep this beauty in check. Pruning can be carried out in late Spring. A general tidy up in the first few years will be sufficient, simply remove any dead wood and crossed over branches, then when you feel that it becoming too tall, just prune it back accordingly. Plant your Osmanthus in full sun or semi shade, grows in any reasonable free draining soil. Small black berries are produced after flowering, our plant didn’t offer this bonus in Aberdeen, I will keep a check on this in our new garden and keep you updated.
*** Osmanthus ***
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On my last post I was talking about removing this Leylandii hedge.
The builders who are doing our extension, (hopefully starting in four weeks time) sent round these guys who made short work of it. They cut back the hedge one morning and came back next day to remove the remaining roots.
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A few days later, the new trellis and fences were erected. I have started the big paint job, made much easier with the use of a spray-gun.
I used cuprinol garden shades, ideal for fences and outdoor furniture. This colour is, Wild Thyme. This is what I used on our Summer house back in Aberdeen.
I must say that when the Summer house was completed it looked more of a dusky shade of green, this time it is more of a bluey green, not quite as blue as my picture looks in our monitor.
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We have four climbing Roses to plant along the trellis, supplier sent four instead of five trellis panels, we will get another Rose for the fifth panel when it arrives.
The four climbers are.
Aloha *** Salmon pink blooms
Golden Showers *** Yellow blooms
Ghislaine de Feligonde *** Creamy white
New Dawn Red *** Red
If you happen to leave a comment I will be sure to visit your site and do the same
Hello Esther
I think our garden is just too small for Leylandii. Mind you I also have seen it looking rather good when well looked after.
Although a Laylandii hedge is awful when out of hand (and must take a lot of light) it can look impressive when kept in hand – but what a job! Your garden looks airier now but will look even more special when you have your roses trained along the trellis.
Hi Astrid
I would never have tackled that hedge. Some of the other jobs I will be getting help with I would have been up to in years gone by.
Alistair – you certainly have enough going on to keep you very busy. The Osmanthus Delavayi is new to me but sounds gorgeous. Too bad it’s a Zone 7 – I will enjoy it vicariously through you.
Good job taking down the hedge. Isn’t youth admirable (and to be envied?) Yup – I remember days when heavy garden work didn’t exhaust me and make me ache all over!! Those were the good old days :). Best of luck with the addition.
Its either sink or swim Janet.
I’m so sorry to hear about Myra, it must be a real nightmare for you both, I hope you find a way through it all that gives you back some contentment and a feeling of “home”.
Pam. I think this evergreen would struggle with your Winters.
Janet. This Osmanthus survived two Winters in Aberdeen without protection, perhaps the salt may be the problem though. Extension! its all gone horribly wrong, Myra simply has not been coping with the move and is making herself ill. We have put a stop to the extension as it looks like she would not be able to stand the strain. Just decided to upgrade the house without all the building work. Mind you, last week we were considering putting it up for sale. I would miss the milder climate though.
Jennifer. The Trellis really has opened up this small garden. Extension, hmm, keep you updated
Hi Alistair, What a difference the new fence makes! The garden actually looks bigger now. The roses are going to be wonderful on the new trellis section. I hope the extension goes smoothly. Renovations are never easy. It all seems to be really coming along nicely though.
Hi AListair, I keep trying to work out where I could plant an Osmanthus delvayi to enjoy the scent, coming up blank at the moment, as it wouldn’t survive the cold northerly salt winds in the front garden over winter. Wonderful to have yours in the ground now. Excellent to have no leylandii now, the trellis looks really good, how did you protect what is behind when you spray painted the trellis? I must admit I had never thought of that as a solution, I have trellis to paint and it is a job I really hate, so fiddly with a paint brush. Very exciting to have the extension starting so soon, I hope it isn’t all too disruptive.
Unfortunately, Osmanthus is one of those lovely shrubs that is just not hardy in this part of Pennsylvania, Alistair, I’m sorry to say. Your new fence and trellis are stunning! P. x
Sick looking at pots now Diana, time to get stuck in. I hope your move goes well, its all been touch and go here.
Its slowly coming together S Butterfly
Those roses are going to be beautiful on that fence….to make your garden even more attractive. You chose the perfect color.
what fun it will be to get those potted hopefuls in the ground. I’m itching to get started on our next garden, but we must wait …
Donna, It makes a change from the usual shade of preservative that we would normally go for.
I really love the color of your fence and I can just picture roses completing the picture. Lovely Alistair.
Thanks Donna, we are very happy with the fence also. Seems like we have come to a decision not to bother extending the house after all and just continue with internal upgrades. This way I will be able to get stuck into the garden and not worry about making it any smaller.
This is plant I am not familiar with but I love the flowers and habit. But the fence is my favorite…I it perfect and really makes the garden backdrop. And the color is perfect Alistair.
Roses are now planted Patrick, I guess it will be next year before they make any real impact.
What a lovely fence and look forward to seeing the roses bolstering all over it in the not distant future. So much nice plant material you have there, my friend
Thats a shame, I was never able to grow Magnolias in Aberdeen. Here in Cheshire they have been looking magnificent since the third week of March, must try to find a place for at least one in our garden.
That would be -4 F. Technically we have a minimum temperature of 0 to 5 degrees F, but I don’t believe it especially since we went down to 28 degrees last night in mid-April. Magnolias and daffodils among other plants were ruined.
Carolyn I think Osmanthus stands minus 18c
Soil definitely needs improving Sunil.
Hi Alistair, we left behind a mature Osmanthus shrub, it would have just finished flowering now, it was planted right by the front door so you could get a good whiff of its fragrant flowers going past. No doubt there will be another (or several) eventually planted in the new garden. The new trellis is so much better than the lelandii hedge before and really opens up that side of the garden. You may need to dramatically improve the soil before the new plants go in as the old hedge (and its roots) will have taken a lot of the goodness out of the soil and roses and clematis are greedy feeders.
That osmanthus is quite pretty. I will have to see if it is hardy here. I am glad you are getting to plant new plants and make the garden your own. The fence looks beautiful.
Patty, my only concern with removing the hedge was, it gave good shelter for the birds in Winter. Woodland area next to us though.
Planning to go to Knutsford this weekend Rick, must have a look at Grasslands.
Cant wait for them to develop.
I love your new trellis, and the color is fabulous! The roses will be gorgeous growing against it.
Fantastic difference now the hedge has gone, it must give you a new page to work on. I find the genus Osmanthus quite handy as I grow both O. x burkwoodii and O. heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’ which is so different. You certainly seem to have taken the new garden head on and are already stamping your personalities on it. Have you been down the road to Grasslands yet?
I liked the hedge Alistair, however once I read about the roses I understood the reasoning. The fence is very attractive and will provide a lovely backdrop for your roses. I hope Cheshire will feel like home soon.
It does make a difference with the hedge gone Jane.
Much prefer that gorgeous fence to the ol’ hedge. It’s all taking shape, becoming yours & Myra’s garden.
Frances,had to work in plenty compost when planting the Roses. Soil is very clay like, in fact I could start up a pottery business.
Alistair your trellis fence looks really nice and the roses will look beautiful on it, the osmanthus delavayi looks like a nice plant too, nice it has settled into it’s new home,
all the best for the up and coming building work, Frances
Helene, I am also reluctant to plant very tall shrubs. This one is easy to keep under control whilst still keeping its good looks. Mind you the blooms and leaves are tiny. I am sure a good joiner would still be able to add these curved trellis add on’s
I must admit Osmanthus delavayi is completely new to me, looks lovely and being evergreen I would consider having it in my garden. With and ultimate height and spread of 2.5-4m it’s good you say it tolerate well to be pruned, I would never have dared gone for a plant with those final measurements otherwise!
Your new fence looks splendid! Must have been quite a job (and an expense) as it looks like you have changed the old ones too? I like the curved bit you have added on the top, I wish I could do that on my fences too, but the fence posts are level with the top of the fence so I don’t think it is possible to retrofit. Good luck with your extension work, hope it won’t be too much of an upheaval for you 🙂