Multi-stem Trees
Osmanthus heterophyllus
Holly olive
Holly-like evergreen leaves and tiny, deliciously scented white flowers in autumn. Osmanthus heterophyllus brings structure and an unexpected autumn fragrance to the garden.
Glossy, holly-like evergreen leaves
Sweetly scented white flowers in autumn
Dense and slow-growing
Excellent for clipping and screening
Please check before you visit. Our nursery is very well stocked, but what we hold changes with the seasons, so this plant may not always be in stock. Enquire before you head over and we will check availability and the sizes we have for you.
At a glance
Type
Multi-stem tree
Foliage
Evergreen
Seasons of interest
Year-round foliage, autumn scent
Eventual size
Typically 2 to 4 m tall
Position
Full sun or partial shade
Soil
Most well-drained soils
Hardiness
Fully hardy in the UK
Available
A range of sizes and forms. Ask our team for current specimens and pricing.
Why we love it
Holly olive looks rather like holly, but in early autumn it surprises you with small white flowers and a sweet, far-reaching scent.
It is slow-growing and dense, so it holds its shape well as a multi-stem and gives reliable evergreen structure.
How to use it
Use it for year-round structure in borders, as a clipped feature near a terrace, or to give privacy in smaller gardens.
Planting and aftercare
Plant between autumn and spring and water through the first two summers. Trim lightly in late spring or early summer to keep it compact.
See it in person
Every plant at Form is hand-selected, none contains new peat, and nothing beats choosing yours by eye. Visit our Row Town showroom in Surrey, just 30 minutes from London, where our team will show you the best of what is on the nursery right now. We deliver across London, Surrey and the Home Counties, and nationwide.
Walk in any time during opening hours and you will be looked after. If you would like dedicated time with a specialist, book a Genus Bar appointment.
Frequently asked questions
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It flowers in early to mid autumn, with small white blooms that are wonderfully fragrant.
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No. It looks similar, but Osmanthus is in the olive family, and its leaves are paired rather than alternate.
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We keep a very well-stocked nursery, but our stock changes with the seasons, so availability varies. Please email us before you visit and we will check what we have and the sizes available.
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Yes, and we would love you to. Every multi-stem tree is individual, with its own branch structure and character, so we always encourage customers to choose by eye. Our largest specimens are held at our Row Town showroom in Surrey. Walk in any time during opening hours, or book a Genus Bar appointment with one of our specialists. If you can’t visit, we are happy to send photographs of individual trees.
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Yes, we deliver nationwide. Deliveries are arranged by our dedicated in-house operations team, and larger specimens can be offloaded by HI-AB or Moffett where needed. We will always agree the most suitable option with you before delivery.
All our multi-stem trees
Explore every tree in our multi-stem trees collection, or view them all with photographs →
Osmanthus heterophyllus
Can’t see what you’re looking for?
Get in touch and we’ll help you find it. Our nursery is very well stocked and we can source almost any plant through our network of trusted growers. Email info@formplants.com, or send us your whole plant list through our bespoke sourcing service.