Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Purpureus'
Archive entry 14.11.10
Archive entry 24.11.13
Archive entry 06.11.22
11th November 2010
Osmanthus heterophyllus is a magnificent evergreen shrub with scented flowers in late autumn.
When I was looking for large evergreen windbreaks I obtained a number of cultivars and they have all bveen good.
This one is often sold as "purple leaved" which is nonsense. The leaves are slightly brown-green, but I think I would need them
together for comparison to be sure which was which. The difference is most apparent in the spring when the new flush of growth
on this one is purple-brown for a time.
It is still rather small and lethargic - it was stunted in a large tub for 20 years and has yet to grow out of it.
'Gulf Tide', a selected compact form with purplish leaves, was planted in the ground at the same time, and towers over it.
22nd December 2013
It hasn't grown much but in 2010 I was looking down on it in the picture, and now I am looking up.
15th November 2018
31st October 2022
A hot summer has really suited it and it has flowered as profusely as I have ever seen.