Holly Olive – Osmanthus heterophyllus

Osmanthus heterophyllus (Holly Osmanthus) is a bushy evergreen shrub prized for its foliage of leathery, glossy, deep green leaves. The leaves vary in shape: they are holly-like with spiny margins when juvenile (resembling English Holly) and simple, elliptic or ovate when adult. Many people misidentify this shrub as holly, but the leaves are always opposite on Osmanthus rather than alternate. Blooming profusely in the fall and winter, the dainty clusters of tiny, wonderfully fragrant, white flowers are often hidden in the foliage. They are occasionally followed by berrylike, blue-black fruit.