Osmanthus Goshiki
Notify Me'Goshiki' means five colours in Japanese, and the name earns itself. The small spiny leaves of this Osmanthus heterophyllus are marbled and speckled cream over green, and each flush of new growth arrives flushed pink and bronze before settling, so an established plant carries several tones at once. Small white flowers in autumn are easy to miss until you catch the scent, which is strong and sweet.
The leaves look like holly, which makes this useful where a bright evergreen is wanted without the aggression of a real holly. Use it as a specimen in a courtyard, a light-coloured accent in a shaded border, a low informal hedge, or a container plant beside a door where the autumn scent gets noticed. It clips well enough for a formal shape.
Plant in full sun to partial shade in free-draining soil, with shelter from harsh wind. More sun gives brighter variegation, while shade produces a greener, looser plant. Growth is slow to moderate, roughly 15 to 25 cm a year once established, so it takes several years to fill a space and needs very little cutting to stay in bounds.
Reaches around 1.5 m tall and 2 m across at maturity.
Trimming: Trim in late spring after the new growth hardens, and lightly again in summer if it is being kept to a shape. Avoid cutting into bare old wood, which is slow to reshoot. Remove any all-green shoots as soon as they appear, as they grow faster and will take over.
Fertilising: Apply a slow-release fertiliser in early spring and mulch afterwards. One feed a year is enough for a plant growing this slowly, and heavy nitrogen dulls the variegation.
Watering: Water regularly through the first two summers. Established plants handle dry spells reasonably well, though container plants need checking through summer.
Pest Control: Scale insects on stems and leaf undersides are the most likely problem, with sooty mould following the honeydew. Treat with horticultural oil. Mealybugs occasionally shelter in the shoot tips.
Disease Management: Root rot in wet, poorly drained ground is the main risk. Leaf spot marks older foliage in humid weather without much effect. Cream variegated tissue can scorch in strong afternoon sun on a plant short of water.
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For orders below $250, the following flat-rate delivery charges are applicable:
- Urban delivery within mainland New Zealand: $19.95
- Rural delivery within mainland New Zealand: $39.95
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