O. heterophyllus ‘Gulftide’ False Holly: The ‘Gulftide’ is recommended as a screen or for hedging. It is dense and one of the hardiest varieties. The flossy foliage is deep green. It grows to about 2m (6 ft) and prunes easily for hedging or in anoutdoor planter. Keep in mind that false holly is a slow grower, and you should only expect about 5-10 cm (2-4 in) of growth in a year. Once the false holly matures, the growth rate may slow down even more, making it a perfect low maintenance plant for a garden bed. Cultural Conditions: Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours) Soil Texture: Clay Loam (Silt) Sand Soil pH: Acid (<6.0) Alkaline (>8.0) Neutral (6.0-8.0) Soil Drainage: Good Drainage Moist Available Space To Plant: 6-feet-12 feet 12-24 feet NC Region: Coastal Mountains Piedmont USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b Attributes: Genus: Osmanthus Species: heterophyllus Family: Oleaceae Life Cycle: Woody Recommended Propagation Strategy: Stem Cutting Country Or Region Of Origin: South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems): Deer browsing Dimensions: Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in. Width: 7 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in. Pruners– Bypass pruners are the most popular choice for gardeners and a must in a pruner’s tool kit. Bypass means the blades pass each other in a scissorlike action providing a clean cut without splintering the stem’s edge. The anvil-type pruner, where the upper blade cuts against a lower flat edge, must always be kept sharp. It is best for removing any dead thin stems from the false holly.

REQUIRES A SINGLE APPLICATION - Rootgrow only needs to be applied once, a single treatment will generally last the entire lifespan of your plants. Flowers: Flower Color: White Flower Inflorescence: Cyme Flower Value To Gardener: Fragrant Showy Flower Bloom Time: Fall Flower Shape: Tubular Flower Petals: 4-5 petals/rays Flower Size: < 1 inch Flower Description: Flowers are plentiful white, sweet-smelling, and are less than an inch in diameter. They have a 4-toothed calyx. Corolla's are campanulate and 4-lobed (lobes are reflexed). There are 2 yellow stamens per flower. Flowers bloom in the late fall, inflorescence is a short, axillary cyme. The flowers are frequently hidden by the leaves. VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy, and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee. False holly does not have an aggressive root system as the true holly shrub. It can be planted next to a window so the fragrant scent from the flowers can be enjoyed indoors too. O. heterophyllus ‘Party Lights’ False Holly: The dark green foliage of the ‘Party Lights’ is a stable colour that sets a contrast for the new leaf growth that emerges as pink and cream at the end of each stem in spring. Perfect as a specimen plant for a spring garden. It grows to about 1.5 m (5 ft) tall.

Plant List

GIVES NEW PLANTS THE BEST POSSIBLE START - Apply rootgrow by sprinking the appropriate amount into the planting hole, then place the plant in the hole ensuring the roots are touching the granules. Once applied your plants will begin to thrive better than before, improving plant establishment and subsequently bettering flowering and fruiting. CONTAINS MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI - A naturally occuring organism, Mycorrhizal Fungi has been benefiting plants in our world for millions of years. Rootgrow is a granular feed that is commonly used to promote vigourous and robust growth, even in poor soils I have listed these species of Osmanthus in accordance with my own personal view of their attractiveness and beauty in the gardens here:

INCREASES UPTAKE OF WATER & NUTRIENTS - Plants treated with Rootgrow develop a secondary root system, with the express purpose of seeking out new sources of water and other key nutrients that are required to keep your plants happy and healthy. For colder regions (zones 6 or 7), the false holly is best planted in a protected area away from cold winter winds. Planted next to the house and under an overhang will provide some insulation and protect the shoots from damage caused by severe winter weather.False holly does not generally need regular pruning, though it responds well to hard pruning if required and it is very suitable for hedging. It is a slow-growing shrub with a natural upright oval habit. Any trimming or reshaping should be done mid to late spring. It is okay to prune in summer too but depending on how much you are taking off, it may remove the flower buds that are forming for the following year. Below is the list of essential tools needed to prune false holly. These shrubs benefit for pruning to develop a bushy and well-balanced form.

The only species which we sadly offer only occasionally is O. fragrans which we found was just too tender for anywhere but a large greenhouse. At Tregrehan Garden they grow O. fragrans f. aurantiacus which has highly fragrant tubular clusters of orange flowers in profusion in the autumn where it grows to 15ft or more in height. A magnificent plant! Whole Plant Traits: Plant Type: Shrub Tree Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics: Broadleaf Evergreen Habit/Form: Dense Oval Growth Rate: Slow Maintenance: Low Texture: CoarseInsects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: False Holly has no serious pest or disease problems, Observe for scale and aphids.