Holly Olive Tricolour

A handsome, very colourful evergreen for milder areas, Osmanthus heterophyllus Tricolor is a medium-sized, slow-growing, evergreen shrub with a neat, pyramidal habit. The spiny, holly-like leaves are glossy green, splashed with creamy-yellow, tinged deep pink and bronze when young. In late summer and autumn, fragrant white flowers, strongly scented of apricot, are borne in the leaf axils; these are sometimes followed by small black berries. A low maintenance plant, holly olive Tricolour does well in containers.

Site: Tolerates exposure
Soil: Any well drained soil, preferably light
Position: Full sun or partial shade
Season of interest: All year, particularly late summer and autumn
Hardiness: Hardy
Height: 5’ (1.5m) Spread: 5’ (1.5m)