Description

To the untrained eye, this looks like a holly with its spiny lustrous leaves, but it's actually related to lilac and privet; branches are arching and covered with fragrant, white trumpet flowers; more adaptable than holly

Landscape Attributes

Tea Olive is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a shapely form and gracefully arching branches. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

Tea Olive is recommended for the following landscape applications;

Planting & Growing

Tea Olive will grow to be about 9 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 9 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is not originally from North America.