Tea Olive, Osmanthus Frangrans is an underused shrub that should receive more attention as a landscape plant. This non-native grows well in horticultural zones 8b – 9. Hernando County is in zone 9a. This shrub will grow slowly, but eventually reach 15-30 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide. It likes dry soil, but has a medium drought tolerance. It does well in full to partial sun. It has little to no salt tolerance. This shrub produces small white flowers. This is a background shrub that won’t attract a lot of visual attention, but its wonderful sweet fragrance will certainly get noticed. Plant this as a shrub or small tree near a door, walkway or patio often used, and you won’t be sorry with the spring through fall flowers and the beautiful aroma they produce. Enjoy as your friends overlook this unpretentious plant to try to find the source of the wonderful fragrance.