Orange Flowering Tea Olive

Orange Flowering Tea Olive is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9 and grows best in full to part sun in moist, well-drained soil. It is adaptable to a range of soils but resents soggy, waterlogged ground.

Planting

1. Choose a spot with full to part sun and good drainage, ideally where you will pass close enough to enjoy the fall fragrance.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and no deeper than the root ball is tall.
3. Set the plant so the top of the root ball sits level with or slightly above the surrounding soil.
4. Backfill with native soil, firm gently to remove air pockets, and water in thoroughly to settle the roots.
5. Apply a 2-to-3-inch layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it pulled back a few inches from the trunk.

Care & maintenance

• Water. Keep the soil evenly moist during the first growing season while the plant establishes. Once settled, it tolerates moderate drought but blooms and grows best with regular water.
• Feed. Apply a balanced slow-release shrub fertilizer in early spring as new growth begins; a second light feeding after flowering is optional.
• Light. Full to part sun gives the densest growth and heaviest bloom. In hot southern climates, a little afternoon shade is welcome.
• Prune. Tea olive blooms on old wood, so prune right after the fall flowering finishes. Light shaping or hedging is well tolerated; avoid hard late-winter cuts that would remove next season's flower buds.
• Mulch & winter care. Maintain mulch year-round to conserve moisture and protect roots. In the colder end of its range, a sheltered, wind-protected site helps the evergreen foliage through winter.
• Pests & disease. Generally trouble-free. Watch for occasional scale insects and, in overly wet soils, root rot; good drainage prevents most problems.

When does it bloom and how long?

Orange Flowering Tea Olive blooms in fall, producing flushes of small orange flowers over several weeks. In milder climates it may send up additional scattered blooms during warm spells.

How fragrant is it really?

Very. Though the blooms are tiny, they carry an intense apricot-and-jasmine scent that can perfume an entire yard. Plant it near a patio, walkway, doorway, or window to make the most of it.

Why isn't my tea olive blooming?

The most common cause is pruning at the wrong time. Because it blooms on old wood, cutting it back in late winter or spring removes the flower buds. Too much shade or heavy nitrogen feeding can also reduce flowering. Prune only right after the fall bloom and give it ample sun.

When and how should I prune it?

Prune immediately after the fall flowering finishes. You can shear it as a formal hedge or lightly shape it as a natural specimen. Pruning later in the year sacrifices the next season's blooms.

Does it grow in sun or shade?

It performs best in full to part sun, which produces the densest foliage and the heaviest fragrant bloom. In hot southern gardens, light afternoon shade is fine, but deep shade reduces flowering.

Is it deer resistant, and can I grow it as a hedge?

Yes on both counts. The tough, aromatic evergreen foliage is generally avoided by deer, and the plant's dense, upright 8-to-10-foot habit makes it an excellent fragrant evergreen hedge or privacy screen as well as a standalone specimen.