That's some of the best advice I ever took. In fact I first heard about them right here in this forum. Was it from you? They are winners in every way. I am surprised I had never heard of or seen them before because once I knew what to look for they were easy to find at nurseries.

I also learned on the "fragrant plant" forum that you can find them in various shades of orange as well, and was given some websites to try. I've posted one below in case anyone is interested. The flowers are pale orange and just as fragrant as the more common white varieties. I got some that were single trunks to train into trees while others are going to remain more like shrubs.

Along these same fragrant lines, I also learned about Sweet 'Almond' Verbenas in this forum (was it from roselee?) and got one of those too. Just delicious!

And someone at a swap two years ago kindly gifted me with a Barbados Cherry which is also a heavenly smell. I planted it in a large container and it wintered in my greenhouse and is going strong and tall.

All highly recommended!

How are the Mexican plums? Did they make it?

Here is a link that might be useful: Osmanthus fragrans aurantiacus

I didn't know Barbados cherries had a scent! Wow. I'll be checking it out for that this year.

Another must have for fragrance is Night blooming jasmine. It's tender so you have to grow it a big pot that can be dragged inside the garage or greenhouse in the winter, but so worth it. You can cut it back to a few inches and it happily sits there all winter waiting for spring. It is sooo fragrant that the scent wafts all the way to the front yard.

Wings, I see you are in central Texas. Are you coming to the San Antonio Plant Swap on April 2?

Plantmaven - oops. Scratch that question about the Mex. Plums. I was having a senior moment and confused you with someone else.

roselee, I'm contemplating coming and trying to put together some native plants to bring, but don't have much.
Regardless, I'd love to come and hang out and meet you and others if I can. But I won't know for sure until we get closer.
Will you be giving garden tours of your delightful yard and/or accepting artwork for your pigeon loft gallery?

There are cultivars from China that are much better than what we can get in USA.

One cultivar has almost inch size flowers. Another one that can bloom 300 days a year in milder winter climate like San Antonio-Houston region. Some have deep orange-red flowers. Hopefully one day they will find their way into the USA market for everybody to enjoy.

Dragonfly wings.

I hope you will be able to come to the swap. It is such fun to meet other TXGW folks.

I had a mex. plum at my former house. It was one of the first things to bloom in the spring. I have a barbados cherry that was kept in the green room this winter. I have yet to decide where to plant it.
I had several at my former house, but they were the dwarf and did not get over a couple feet tall.

lou_Midloathian - yes, I've seen pictures of some of the really bright red/orange varieties and can't understand why they weren't brought over here long ago.
One of the sites I saw pics was in Dave's Garden website.
The variety pictured was Osmanthus fragrans "zao hong". I tried to contact the member who posted the pic but he/she never responded.
I think the vendors listed on that page only carry the common white variety.

Might be helpful to keep an eye on this grower. (link below) He's been propagating the more exotic varieties and may possibly have some available soon. I'm not sure because his website seems inactive. According to his blog, which may or may not be current, he's in Japan right now!

Plantmaven, thank you for the warm invitation. I hope to make it there. Tell roselee how wonderful those Barbados Cherries smell!

lou-Midlothian - I did a search on Osmanthus fragrans "zao hong" and came up with several Garden Web threads with your name all over them...lol! So I'm sure you already know much more than me on this subject. And it looks like the person who posted the picture over on Daves Garden was also in the 'fragrant plants' thread sometime back listing all the exotic varieties and a chinese website. Not too helpful, but maybe you also saw the thread with the link I mentioned in the above post (that I forgot to include). From what I've found in my searches thus far, this guy seems to have the best selection of Osmanthus fragrans varieties from Japan.

http://sniktak.pointinspace.com/fmi/iwp/cgi?-db=SNI_Web_Dictionary&-loadframes

Here is a link that might be useful: Nurseries Caroliniana

Wings, thanks for the link. If I had money to burn I'd take a chance and order that red one in the largest size possible -- $70 for 2 gallon. Oh well, I'm very happy with mine which is blooming quite fragrantly right now.

BTW Wings, your page is not set up to receive email. If you, or anyone, would like to add email capabilities to 'your page' scroll to the bottom of the main page of any forum and click on 'member services' and change it from there.

Happy gardening! Looks like another beautiful day in central Texas.

Roselee, keep checking back. I have seen them sell the red ones on 1g size for half the price. I got it but due to small size, it may take several years to reach 4 ft height when they supposedly will start blooming. It is typical for the orange group to take years before blooming. The 4 season type like Fudingzhu blooms much sooner and it blooms more often.

Dragonfly, I have the osmanthus book from China that I won on ebay. A lot cheaper than what is officially on the market. Wow, very detailed information for over 100 cultivars in China!

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/trees/msg1219572415588.html?28 - sadly pictures are gone but you will see the description of cultivars that everybody wants.

I'm going to provide a link to China website (use Google for translation).

Here is a link that might be useful: Lots of info over cultivars in China

lou Midlothian - Thanks for the link to that translated page. I forgot about Google translation. It sounds like they are really trying to step up efforts to get all the cultivars in propagation and circulation around the world.
Yea!! Of course there are so many it's probably very difficult to do.

What is the title of the book you are referring to? I'd like to have a look if it's available for purchase on Amazon or elsewhere. You really have gotten in deep with these fragrant beauties! And why not?! A worthy pursuit. Go east young man and propagate. Next thing ya know we'll be hearing you are on your way to China or Japan. lol! I hope you'll share any news or information you discover about Osmanthus fragrans. I too find them alluring.

Dragonfly,

The book is called "An Illustrated Momograph of The Sweet Osmanthus Cultivars In China". On the left page, it's in Chinese language and on the right page, it's in English Language.

I got interested in them after smelling them at Stephen F Austin Arboretum. I was like where is that coming from. The fragrance was everywhere and it's hard not to want one. I googled for sweet olives on Gardenweb and of course, there are others talking about these cultivars from China that I had to have them. I hope to have these one day. Somehow...

lou Midlothian -

Thanks so much for that info on the book. I look forward to having a look at it. I am a kindred admirer of all things fragrant and beautiful and feel as though I've probably retraced many of your own steps in pursuit of the holy grail of osmanthus fragrans.
I'm hot on the scent...

Here is a link that might be useful: More info on Osmathus frangrans

Wow Wings! What an interesting article on a fascinating tree. Thanks for the link and thanks Lou for the information you provided.

Wings, do you have night blooming jasmine?

roselee - agreed - a "fascinating tree". I can't believe how old that one was they showed in the article. I wish this country would safeguard more of our older trees and treat them like beloved and revered ancestors as they do in China and Japan.

No, I haven't yet had the pleasure of getting up close and personal with a night blooming jasmine...yet, but I made mental notes to do just that when you mentioned them before.

Hi,

Here is one example from the China osmanthus book - Dahua Dangui (Big-Flower red).

Lou, thanks for photographing those pages. With all the plants nurserymen have brought in from China throughout these many years it seems strange that more attention has not been focused on these beautiful fragrant trees.

Wings, send me an email through my page. It seems your page is not set up to receive email.

lou - Wow! Thank you for sharing these photos. What a treat. That is just a stunning specimen. I want one! A feast for the eyes and nostrils.

oooops..... forgive me for drooling on your book! ;^)