5 Litre pot
- Position: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil: Fertile, well drained
- Growth rate: Slow
- Flowering period: Autumn
- Hardiness: H5
- Eventual height: 1 – 1.5m
- Eventual spread: 1 – 1.5m
Osmanthus Party Lights is a delightful evergreen shrub renowned for its striking foliage and captivating fragrance. This cultivar, a member of the Oleaceae family, is a cherished addition to any garden or landscape design, captivating observers with its vibrant colours and sweet-scented blooms.
The defining feature of this Osmanthus is its variegated foliage, which emerges with a burst of electrifying colour in Spring. The leaves are oval-shaped and delicately serrated, showcasing a stunning combination of bright green and creamy yellow hues that illuminate the garden landscape. As the season progresses, the foliage maintains its vibrant coloration, adding year-round interest to the plant.
In Autumn it produces clusters of tiny, fragrant flowers that envelop the shrub in a cloud of sweet perfume. The blossoms, borne on the previous year’s growth, attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, adding a delightful touch of activity and charm to the garden.
This cultivar typically forms a compact, mounding shape, reaching a height and spread of around 1.5 metres, making it an ideal choice for borders, foundation plantings, or mixed shrub borders. Its modest size also makes it suitable for container gardening, adding a splash of colour and fragrance to patios or balconies.
With its vibrant foliage, sweet-scented blooms, and easy-going nature, Osmanthus Party Lights is sure to elevate any garden or landscape design, bringing beauty, fragrance, and a touch of festive flair to outdoor spaces throughout the seasons.
How to care for your Osmanthus Party Lights
- Sunlight: Plant in a location that receives full sun to partial shade. While it can tolerate some shade, it tends to develop its most vibrant foliage coloration in full sun.
- Soil: Ensure the soil is well-draining and fertile. Prefers moist, loamy soil but can adapt to a range of soil types, including clay and sandy soils.
- Watering: Water the shrub regularly, especially during the growing season and dry spells. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Deep watering is preferable to shallow watering, as it encourages deep root growth.
- Mulching: Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of the plant to help retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weed growth. Maintain a mulch layer of about 2-3 inches, keeping it away from the stem to prevent rot.
- Fertilisation: Feed with a balanced, slow-release fertiliser in Spring, just as new growth begins. Avoid heavy fertilisation, as excessive Nitrogen can lead to lush foliage growth at the expense of variegation.
- Pruning: Prune the shrub lightly after flowering to maintain its shape and encourage bushy growth. Remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches, cutting back to healthy growth points.
- Protection from Frost: In colder climates, protect from frost damage by covering it with a frost cloth or providing additional insulation around the base of the plant. Mulching can also help protect the roots from freezing temperatures.
By following these care guidelines, you can ensure that your Osmanthus Party Lights remains healthy, vibrant, and a stunning focal point in your garden, providing beauty, fragrance, and variegated foliage throughout the seasons.
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