Sweet Olive is one of those plants whose sweet fragrance gnaws at you for weeks before you realize it’s been there the whole time.
This small tree’s flowers would be unremarkable at first glance if not for the powerful perfume. Although not native, Osmanthus is so mild mannered and slow growing that despite a long history of cultivation, there are no reports of invasiveness anywhere (and certainly not in North America).
It can be found growing in sun or shade, often unwatered and planted by a long-ago homeowner — a testament to its long-lived durability even in the extreme weather of recent years. While its profile claims to prefer “moist, well-drained garden soils in full sun,” sweet olive appears to be quite versatile if soils are deep enough. It blooms most heavily in spring, but on a cool fall day the wistful fragrance is even more delightful.