Osmanthus: health benefits and recipe with green tea. Osmanthus fragrant Osmanthus: growing from seeds

If you hear something exotic, oriental or slightly ironic in this word, then your intuition did not disappoint. The emblem of the Chinese Hangzhou, the osmanthus flower enjoys well-deserved fame in Japan. There it is also called "tea olive", widely used as a means for the natural flavoring of this favorite drink. Fragrant osmanthus jam is served as a delicacy. Osmanthus grows mainly in Asia, it is a flowering shrub.

If everything is more or less clear with exoticism, then a touch of light irony that our person will catch in the name is introduced (unconsciously or intentionally?) Thanks to the main value of any flower - its aroma. But first, a little about the variety of colors.

Amber is more valuable

Four-toed, collected in inflorescences, on long thin legs, osmanthus flowers have a reddish, silvery-white or bright yellow color. It is the latter species that is most widely distributed, which is not surprising: like the bright orange carrot, it contains a record amount of carotenoids. So, it has the most wonderful qualities. Among which the incomparable aroma is in the lead.

If you pay attention to perfumes containing osmanthus in their composition, their price will certainly catch your eye. And this is no coincidence: only expensive perfume compositions contain precious osmanthus absolute.

And you can be sure of the sophistication and quality of such a fragrance. "Queen of Sheba" and the incomparable "Laila" or that guarantee.

Why is the aroma of osmanthus so attractive and remarkable? And what about the irony?

Imagine…

Before you is an amazing "live" still life: on a carved napkin made of natural suede there is a bouquet of violets and a crystal vase with fruit. Imagine the most ripe and fragrant apricot, drunk with all the generosity of the southern sun. You easily break the fruit into halves, drops of juice appear near the velvety skin. One of them suddenly breaks off and falls on a napkin. But you don't notice, you continue tasting fruits: blue plums covered with a matte coating, ruddy peaches. Sweet fragrant juice now and then breaks from the fingers, and now the whole napkin has become spotty. The characteristic smell of suede is forever intertwined with fruity, and this, hand on heart, is so wonderful!

When meeting with an osmanthus, this picture will pop up in your memory.

The East will not hide!

In addition to its main meaning, osmanthus in perfumes serves to enhance the fruity beginning, and can also impart a sensual suede shade to floral and oriental compositions.

The East, since ancient times treating itself to osmanthus tea, showering the newlyweds with fragrant tea olive, extracting the precious absolute from its amber flowers, willingly shares its fragrant secrets with the West.

Tea drinking is a special ritual that allows you to enjoy the aroma of a divine drink, relax, unwind, enjoy a friendly conversation over a cup of fragrant tea flavored with herbs and flower petals. One of the generally recognized leaders among fragrant and healthy drinks is osmanthus tea.

Osmanthus is an evergreen shrub with delicate small flowers and dark green glossy leaves. It belongs to the family of olive crops, and China is considered its homeland. The flowers of the plant are painted in a delicate palette - from light olive to cream and golden yellow. The flowering period lasts from September to April, filling the air with fragrance.

Osmanthus flowers have found use all over the world. The inhabitants of the Celestial Empire, being true experts in aromatherapy, appreciate the fragrant shrub for its qualities and have been widely used in many industries for more than two millennia.

Why is the osmanthus flower so attractive?

The main advantage is a unique fruity aroma, delicate, delicate and, at the same time, quite persistent. Connoisseurs describe it as a mixture of the smell of ripe peaches and apricots and sweet fresh pastries. The taste of fragrant osmanthus tea remains in the mouth for a long time after drinking tea.

It is not surprising that such a pleasant aroma is used in perfumery for the production of perfumes. He was given a romantic name - "memories of the Chinese garden." Osmanthus essential oil is the most expensive and valuable among all known. Chemical composition flower petals can affect the deep layers of the skin, prolonging its youth and freshness. That is why the Chinese used the fragrant olive in cosmetology since ancient times, and now it is an indispensable component in the production of cosmetics for skin all over the world.

Useful properties of shrubs

Fragrant osmanthus (its flowers, stems and roots), due to the huge number useful qualities, have long been used in folk medicine East:

• Aromatherapy. Tea from dried flowers or infusion has a calming, relaxing effect, helps to get rid of anxiety and anxiety.
• Cough treatment. The medicinal decoction has a powerful expectorant, anti-inflammatory effect, thins and removes sputum when coughing, is effective for whooping cough, indigestion. Helps with inflammation of the gums, stomatitis, boils.
• Powerful antioxidant. It cleanses the body, removes toxic substances, reduces the level of "bad" cholesterol. It has strong antiseptic and anti-sclerotic properties, improves metabolism, promotes weight loss.

Contraindications

Like all medicinal herbs with potent properties, osmanthus has some restrictions on its use. In any form, it is not recommended to use it for pregnant women and nursing mothers, patients with epilepsy, children. It is also contraindicated in case of individual intolerance to the plant, manifestations of allergies and high blood pressure.

How to make osmanthus tea

The Chinese are true connoisseurs of all the intricacies of tea drinking. They are especially reverent about the “tea olive” and know exactly what sorts of tea can be combined with the aroma of fragrant flowers.

An infusion of dried flowers of the plant is called "Gui Hua Cha" in China. It is prepared separately, and then it can be added to black or green tea, or drink as an independent drink, which has an unusually pleasant wonderful fruity taste and delicate smell. Its miraculous qualities are manifested in any method of preparation.

Gourmets love to indulge in osmanthus and jasmine petal teas for a surprisingly bright and rich floral aroma combined with the sweet taste of ripe apricot and peach fruit.

Gui Hua Oolong is a blend of golden Osmanthus petals and Oolong, a semi-fermented green tea. Black pu-erh, which the Chinese call red, is also mixed with fragrant olive petals, and a unique, exquisite, fragrant Gui Hua Hong Cha tea is obtained. It is these two varieties of tea that are ideal for blending with osmanthus flower petals.

Golden Gui Hua Oolong has a special tart fruity taste, floral-honey aroma and a sweet aftertaste, perfectly relaxing and soothing. Tea can be consumed cold, its taste only benefits from this. But you need to cool and insist in a tightly sealed container to avoid oxidation and loss of beneficial properties.

It is best to brew Gui Hua Osmanthus in a transparent teapot, following the movement of light petals, color saturation.

1. Preparation of tea by pouring: pour 5-7 g of dry mixture into 100-120 ml of water (90-95 degrees) and infuse for 10-20 seconds. Withstands 7-8 passages.
2. With the European method of brewing: take 3-4 g of tea leaves (1 tsp), pour 200-250 ml of water at 90-95 ° C and leave for 2-3 minutes. Welding is used 1 time.

Red-brown Gui Hua Hong Cha with sweetish-tart notes in taste - tones and invigorates in the morning, and relieves fatigue in the evening.

An exceptionally healthy and exquisitely aromatic tea will deliver true moments of pleasure, cheer up, restore strength, and have a beneficial effect on the entire body.

Damask Rosa

Genus osmatnus ( Osmanthus) belongs to the olive family (Oleaceae), it includes about 30 species flowering plants, most of which are located in the warm Asian climate. In nature, these plants grow in a fairly wide geographical zone: from 36 to 45 degrees north latitude, from the Caucasus to Japan.

In the Himalayas, osmatnus can be found high in the mountains, for example, in Nepal they grow abundantly in mountain forests along with holly (Ilex dipyrena) and castanopsis (Castanopsis spp) - a kind of chestnut tree on which medicinal shiitake mushrooms grow. The name of these mushrooms is derived from the Japanese words take - "mushroom" and shii - "castanopsis".

Among all types of osmanthus stands out brightly fragrant osmanthus ( Osmanthus fragrans), in another way it is also called tea or fragrant olive.

It originates from China, there is even an area called Gui Ling, which in Chinese means "scented forest". Osmanthus has been growing in China for several thousand years and is considered by the Chinese to be one of the ten most beloved flowers.

As a traditional symbol of romantic love, osmanthus is used in Taiwan's ancient wedding ceremony. According to the custom, the bride should bring to the new family osmanthus and pomegranate grown by her in a pot with her own hands. A fragrant plant in this case symbolizes love and fidelity, a fruit plant symbolizes peace and fertility, and together such a gift means that a young wife is ready to give birth to her husband wonderful children, and the family will be rich in children and grandchildren.

Many legends are associated with osmanthus in China, because its flowers, among other things, are a symbol of the Chinese Moon Festival, which is celebrated in September - it is at this time that fragrant osmanthus begins its abundant flowering, which can last until spring.

At the height of the holiday, Chinese families gather in the garden or in the yard, eat traditional "moon cakes", and grandmothers tell old tales about the enchanted Chan E who lived on the moon, the giant Wu Gan, the magical Jade Rabbit and the huge fragrant osmanthus that guards the Moon Palace.

Here is what the ancient legends say:

The tale of Wu Gan and the osmanthus tells how the giant Wu Gan was punished by the Jade Emperor for his sin - he was insanely jealous. The emperor sent him to the moon, to the Guanhanyon Palace and gave him the task of cutting down the huge immortal osmanthus that grows in front of the palace. To cut down such a colossus was a completely hopeless and practically impossible business, since. the tree had magic power- cut off branches immediately grew again. An endless competition stretched out for thousands of years - Wu Gan chopped, and the tree not only immediately restored the damage inflicted on it, but also became even higher, wider and more beautiful. Finally, the tree grew so much that it completely covered the palace under its crown.

One of the most beloved characters in this tale is the Jade Rabbit, who grinds with a mortar the ingredients of the elixir of immortality, with the help of which the osmanthus remains alive forever.

And in the tale of the Moon Lady, it is said about how the Jade Emperor decided to reward his best archer - to give him the elixir of life: a sweet fragrant pill. And his wife, beautiful Chang E, decided to deceive her husband. She stole the pill while he was sleeping and, taking it, gained the ability to fly. She immediately soared into the air and flew and flew until she flew to the moon. There she became a prisoner in the cold Moon Palace, where she lived all alone. This was the punishment for her transgression. It is said that sometimes, on a full moon, you can see how the Moon Lady - that's how they began to call Chan E, sadly wanders along the moon. And the beautiful fragrant osmanthus, which grows in front of the Moon Palace, with its wonderful smell reminds her of her lost love and makes the repentant Chang E feel even more unhappy ..

Only the Jade Rabbit, the only inhabitant of the Palace, became her devoted friend. From time to time, Chang E asks him to take a mortar and pestle and prepare a magic pill for her so that she can return to earth, to her husband. But the Rabbit is busy all the time, because he is preparing the elixir of immortality for the beautiful osmanthus, and the unfortunate woman is still waiting for her turn to finally come ..

Famous Chinese gui hua cha- infusion of fragrant osmanthus petals - this is an incredibly delicate and unique, slightly sweet, fragrant drink that is drunk on its own or added to black or green tea. Even after drinking this fantastic drink, your breath remains fresh and fragrant for a long time.

Sometimes they just make fragrant tea, for which they mix the tea leaves with dried osmanthus and jasmine flowers (Jasminum sambac), and then close this mixture in a hermetically sealed jar for two to three weeks, after which it is brewed in the usual way.

The Chinese use sun-dried osmanthus flowers in cooking, flavoring jams, soups, sweet biscuits, dumplings, and even making liquor out of them. Jam with the addition of osmanthus is used in the preparation of chatang, a traditional dish in northern China, a kind of liquid porridge made from millet or sorghum with sugar and jam.

In addition, a decoction of osmanthus flowers - good remedy from cough, compresses from a decoction of the bark are used in the treatment of severe suppuration - boils and carbuncles, it also helps with inflammation of the retina. Fragrant osmanthus is used in cosmetics as a skin and hair nourishing agent. Made from flowers essential oil, and the flowers themselves are an excellent remedy for moths!

Fragrant osmanthus first came to Europe in the middle of the 19th century. It was brought there by a French Jesuit missionary, enthusiastic botanist Jean Marie Delaway. (1834 - 1895) . During his stay in China, J. M. Delaway described more than 4,000 plant species, of which 1,500 were previously unknown. Several of these plants now bear his name, including a species of osmanthus.

Fragrant osmanthus, depending on the conditions, can be a strong voluminous evergreen shrub or even grow into a small tree. It has simple opposite leathery, shiny leaves with serrated edges.

Very fragrant small white flowers with four-lobed tubular corollas (false petals) grow in small panicles. The wonderful smell of fragrant osmanthus flowers, a bit reminiscent of the smell of ripe peaches or apricots, is heard from afar..

The fruit of fragrant osmatus is a stone fruit (drupe) 10-15 mm in size, covered with a dense dark blue or purple skin, inside there is one seed.

Osmanthus flowers are bisexual, that is, each flower has both male and female characteristics. Usually osmanthus bloom begins in September or October, lasts all winter and almost all spring, until April, and sometimes until May. Osmanthus blooms not constantly, but in waves, in just a season it has from two to four waves of flowering.

The aroma of fragrant ostmanthus is provided by the breakdown of beta-carotene and other carotenoids - hydrocarbons that are actively involved in the formation of leaf pigment.

The yellow, orange, and red pigments act as antennas, absorbing light and then transferring its energy to form chlorophyll.

Chlorophyll molecules, in turn, convert solar energy into chemical energy, which accumulates in the molecules of the resulting sugar.

Usually carotenoids "hide" under the mask of green chlorophyll. And when chlorophyll breaks down, carotenoids give us the opportunity to admire the magnificent spectacle of autumn foliage. Carotenoids also signal that the fruits are ripe: tomatoes turn red, carrots and tangerines turn orange, yellow hues are characteristic of ripe pineapples and lemons.

Beta-carotene is essential for vision. In the human body, its molecules break down into two molecules of retinol (vitamin A), which, in turn, turn into retinal, the pigment that allows us to see. It is carotenoids that make our world colorful. The whole warm spectrum becomes visible: we can see crocuses - yellow, flamingos - pink, and a rose - red. The breakdown of carotenoid derivatives gives plants flowers and leaves an odor, and fruits a taste.

So, for example, when beta-carotene is converted into beta-damascenone, consisting of 13 carbon compounds, the whole essence of the aroma of the Damascus rose is revealed. AT Crocus sativus beta-carotene is converted to ten-carbon safranal, which gives the plant its characteristic odor and bright color, provides its coloring ability.

And in our fragrant osmanthus, beta-carotene is converted into a 9-13-carbon mixture, which gives the smell of osmanthus that sensual, “thirsty” note for which perfumers appreciate it so much. You begin to feel this smell long before you see its source. At the beginning of the 20th century, this nostalgic-delicate smell inspired perfumers to create perfumes based on osmanthus essential oil.

Osmanthus fragrans can be not only white flowers . There are very beautiful hybrids : Apricot Gold with fragrant golden apricot flowers, Butter Yellow butter color, Osmanthus fragrans f. aurantiacus , blooming all autumn with pale orange flowers , Orange Supreme- very decorative osmatnus with bright orange flowers. There is also a hybrid Osmanthus x futurae, which is distinguished not only by the delicious smell of its flowers, but also has an unusual leaf shape resembling a holly. Sometimes it is called that - a fake holly.

Osmatnus fragrant is a wonderful plant, it can be grown equally successfully, both at home and in the garden. The plant grows well on light sandy soil, and on loam, and on heavy clay soils. It equally well perceives acidic, neutral and alkaline soil, it can grow even in very alkaline areas. In the first year of life, osmanthus, in order to form a deep and branched root system, need regular watering, but later the earth at the roots should not dry out. You can feed the plant with conventional fertilizers in early spring, before the formation of young shoots. To give an adult plant a neat shape, after flowering, pruning is performed.

Fragrant Osmatnus grows rather slowly, but it is easy to grow. It loves the sun and a little shade, is quite resistant to wind and cold, withstands slight frosts. However, with long sub-zero temperature or more severe frost, may not survive.

Osmanthus reproduces well with 7-12 cm cuttings taken from an adult tree in September-October. Cuttings are best rooted in an unheated greenhouse or arranged on a windowsill in a cool room. Rooted seedlings can be planted in the soil only after 18 months, in the spring.

Osmanthus can also be propagated by seeds - the percentage of germination directly depends on the freshness of the seeds. Old seeds can also sprout if they are subjected to a semi-annual stratification before sowing: three months of warm and three months of cold.

Seeds germinate within 6-18 months, and seedlings can be transplanted into an individual pot only after they grow strong enough for independent living. The first winter, seedlings are best placed in a greenhouse or kept at home, and they should be transplanted into open ground in early summer.

By planting a fragrant osmanthus at home, you will forever be spared from the winter depression that this cold and dark season unwittingly casts - because it blooms all winter.

With the wonderful aroma of its flowers and a cup of fragrant gui hua cha, which is not difficult to make by mixing good loose leaf tea with dried flowers of your own osmanthus, you will surely feel at least a little happier. And, looking out the window, finding the full moon in the dark winter sky, you will smile like an old acquaintance, the Jade Rabbit, who keeps pushing and pushing his elixir of immortality..

References:

Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London.
Manandhar. N.P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E.S. Medical Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985
Baacciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 I
Stuart. Rev. G.A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei.

Many people want to have something exotic on the windowsill of their apartment. Unusual "guests" from the tropics and deserts, from the shores of the Amazon or always delight the eye and cheer up. Why not start at home not only a beautiful and rare plant, but also a useful one? One of these is osmanthus. Few people in our country know what it is, since it is rare to find it in stores or at home.

Description of the genus

Under the name "osmanthus" a whole genus of deciduous evergreens is combined. All of them belong to the Maslinov family. The homeland of the plant is tropical forests from Asia to the Caucasus itself. Osmanthus is not yet as popular and widespread in Russia as, for example, in China. It has been grown there for more than one millennium, and not only as an ornamental, but also as medicinal plant. Osmanthus is associated with many legends and beliefs; it is traditionally considered a symbol of love and fidelity. Plants of this genus are shrubs or trees that have hard, dark green leaves with smooth or serrated edges. Osmanthus flowers can be snow-white or yellow in color, they exude a strong aroma, which is sometimes compared to the smell of magnolia and jasmine.

Osmanthus fragrant

Very often it can be found under the name of tea or fragrant olive. The homeland of the plant is Southern Japan, the Himalayas and China. Under natural conditions, it is a tree or shrub up to three meters high. Flowers can be white or yellow, depending on the variety, have a pronounced sweetish aroma. The scented osmanthus is a very showy plant with leathery leaves that have serrated edges. In nature, it begins to bloom in September, and this continues until spring.

Osmanthus grows quite slowly, but it is unpretentious and drought-resistant. It will grow in almost any soil. AT open field in our climatic conditions osmanthus will not take root, as it cannot withstand a long drop in temperature below zero. But he will feel quite comfortable in room conditions. If you want to grow a tree, then and in this case, osmanthus is perfect (photo below).

Which soil to choose

The osmanthus plant is not capricious, but still for best growth and development must take into account some of the nuances. It is better to choose a place in the apartment with bright lighting, for example, on the south window, and in spring and summer, take it out to the loggia, balcony or terrace. It is best to choose a soil with a slightly acidic or neutral environment. The ideal ratio is 2:1 (fertile light soil and peat). You definitely need good drainage, so you need to put expanded clay on the bottom of the pot, and add coarse river sand to the soil. The plant does not require pruning, as this will reduce its flowering.

Propagation by seeds and cuttings

The first method is very long, since seedlings will have to wait at least six months, or even more. In addition, it all depends directly on the freshness of the seeds. If they are old, then it is necessary to carry out stratification so that the osmanthus is healthy and strong. What it is, every grower knows - keeping seeds at certain temperatures for their better germination (for osmanthus - three months in warmth and the same amount in cold). It is very easy to propagate the plant with semi-lignified cuttings. They need to be cut in July. Then dry the cut for several hours, dip it in a growth stimulator and root it in a mixture of peat and sand. When the roots appear, it is necessary to plant young osmanthus in separate pots.

Watering and transplanting

Watering during the period of intensive growth (in winter) should be plentiful, the rest of the time - moderate, water stagnation in the soil should not be allowed, but the land should not be overdried. Osmanthus loves moist air very much, so daily spraying will only benefit him. Sometimes you can arrange a tropical rain for the plant in the shower, and the leaves should be wiped with a damp cloth from accumulating dust. Once a month during the growing season, osmanthus should be watered with a complex mineral or organic fertilizer.

Replant the plant only as needed. Osmanthus prefers to grow in a tight pot until the roots fill it completely. Young plants should be transplanted as they grow, while for large ones it will be enough to change only the top layer of soil.

Gui Hua Hong Cha and osmanthus: what is it?

This is a unique product made in China. Authentic Gui Hua Hong Cha is made from an elite variety of red tea, which has a very rich tart flavor, resulting high degree fermentation. It grows in only three Chinese provinces. To flavor the drink, an ancient recipe is used, its main ingredient is osmanthus. What it is and how to use it, perhaps, every resident of the Guangxi province in China knows, because this is their signature drink. Only two varieties of osmanthus are used, the flowering period of which is only 10-15 days, so this is a unique product, and the amount of genuine tea is limited.

If you are a happy owner of this plant, the drink can be prepared at home. To do this, osmanthus flowers must first be dried at room temperature (not in direct sunlight), and then brewed. The infusion is used as an independent drink or added to black tea. It has an amazing aroma and a slight soothing, relaxing effect. The essential oils contained in the flowers have a beneficial effect on the body and help to cope with cough.

If you plant osmanthus at home, you will never regret it. The plant will give you a great mood and will delight you with its decorative effect, and besides, it will be possible to treat yourself with pleasure to a mug of tea with fragrant flowers on cold winter evenings.

Botanical name: Osmanthus.

Fragrant osmanthus - family . Olive.

Origin. Asia, North America.

What does osmanthus look like . They are small, evergreen, spreading trees or shrubs. The leaves are oblong-lanceolate or elliptical, arranged oppositely, on short petioles, green, up to 7 cm long, glossy, leathery. Leaf blades have finely serrated or smooth edges. The flowers are small - up to 1 cm in diameter, with a very long flower tube, collected in large inflorescences - panicles. Why is the plant called fragrant and what does osmanthus smell like? Most often there are plants with a characteristic fruity aroma, for example, c branches of some species have a very pleasant and rather strong aroma of apricot. Flower colors range from white to orange to reddish. The fruits are small oblong, up to 1.5 cm long, when ripe they become dark blue or purple.

Height. Under natural conditions, it can grow up to 2 - 3 m tall, in culture the height can be adjusted using pruning.

2. Osmanthus - home care

2.1. Reproduction, growing from seeds

Semi-ripe cuttings 8 - 10 cm long, in spring and summer. The bottom pair of leaves is removed from the cuttings and the bases are dusted with rooting powder, then immersed in a mixture of wet peat and sand. Young plants are covered with glass or a plastic bag to maintain uniform humidity. Rooting occurs within 6 - 8 weeks. Osmanthus can also be grown from seeds sown in the spring, but it takes a long time to grow into an adult plant.

2.2. Flowering time

Osmanthus very rarely blooms indoors. Flowers may appear at any time from spring to autumn, depending on the species and conditions.

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2.3 Growing conditions - temperature

In spring and summer, during the growing season, normal room temperature is suitable. In winter, the osmanthus flower falls into a dormant period and is kept cool - about 5 - 10 ° C.

2.4.Ground

Osmanthus home well tolerates even the poor nutrients soils and adapts well to most types of soils that have good drainage, but prefers soils with a slightly acidic pH.

2.5 Lighting

Osmanthus should be exposed to direct sunlight in the morning and evening for 3 to 4 hours daily. Brings out partial shade.

2.6.How to care

Osmanthus is an unfussy plant and great for beginners. It grows slowly and tolerates a wide range of conditions. Trim off too long or weak shoots in spring. Pinch off the tips of young shoots regularly to keep the plant profusely branched and denser. In summer, you can take the plant outside.

2.7. Fertilizer

2 times a month with water-soluble fertilizers during the period of active growth.

2.8. Watering

Young plants need regular moisture. Adults water moderately, even during the growing season. The soil should dry out to 2/3 of the depth between waterings. During the dormant period, plants slow down growth, so just prevent the earthen coma from drying out.

2.9.Osmanthus transplant

Osmanthus does well in slightly cramped conditions, so it is not always worth changing the pot size when transplanting. Transplantation is carried out in the spring, with the beginning of a new growth. In large tub plants, the top layer of soil 5-6 cm thick is changed annually to fresh.

2.10. Diseases and pests

With insufficient air movement, intensive watering, various fungal diseases may appear.

Aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, nematodes.

Insects - pests

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2.11 Spraying

Spray periodically if the keeping temperature is high enough or the air in the room becomes too dry.




2.12. Purpose

The flowers of the plant are used to make fragrant, often green tea, and are also widely used in Chinese medicine. From flowers and leaves, an essential oil is obtained, which is used in perfumery and cosmetics, for example, in the production of expensive perfumes, shower gels.

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  2.13 Note

  Osmanthus is able to live a very long time indoors.

  Hydroponics.

  3. Varieties of osmanthus:

  3.1. Osmanthus heterophylla or heterophyllus - Osmanthus heterophyllus

  Dense evergreen shrub with stiff, dark green, glossy leaves, slightly bent along the central vein. The plant got its name due to the fact that young leaves differ in shape from adults - they have large teeth along the edge of the leaf blade, resembling maple leaves. The number of teeth on the leaves of even one plant varies. There are very beautiful variegated osmanthus of this subspecies, the leaves of which are painted in a dark green hue, and have a wide white strip along the edge. The flowers are white, collected in small inflorescences, male and female flowers are on different specimens.

  

  One of the most variegated variations of the plant can be considered variegated osmanthus "tricolor"- a spectacular plant with green leaves with small yellowish specks on the surface. The youngest leaves on the tops of the shoots are painted in these shrubs in a bronze or burgundy hue.

  

  3.2. Osmanthus fortunei - Osmanthus fortunei

  

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