How to grow osmanthus from seeds. Properties and description of fragrant tea with osmanthus. You may also be interested

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.

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

Home osmanthus tolerates even nutrient-poor soils well and adapts well to most soil types with 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.

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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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.

Osmanthus is used in cosmetology, medicine, cooking and perfumery. In China, the flowers of the fragrant plant are used to flavor black and green tea. The drink helps to restore strength and renew the body. Plants produce sweet perfumes from essential oils, which are distinguished by a delicate fruity aroma. Osmanthus contains vitamin C, calcium and magnesium. The stems and bark are brewed to treat diseases. The plant is effective in nervous pathologies of the cardiovascular system.

Description

Osmanthus is an evergreen deciduous plant that belongs to the oil family. In China, the fragrant flower is called kimonkuseya, or tea olive. Ornamental shrub has from 13 to 36 species. In medicine, horticulture and cosmetology, fragrant osmanthus is used. A small tree reaches a height of 2 to 12 m. The shiny leaves of the plant have a dark green tint and jagged edges. Osmanthus buds are collected in inflorescences that exude a pleasant aroma. The plant smells like fruit (with hints of apricot and peach). Flowers are white, yellow, red or red. They bloom from September or October and remain until the end of winter.

In the natural environment, kimonkusei grows up to 18 m, and at home - up to 2 m in height.

Properties

The plant is used in folk medicine due to its healing properties. A decoction of osmanthus bark helps in the treatment of boils, carbuncles and whooping cough. The tincture of the roots is effective in women's diseases, bruises and gum disease. The fragrant plant lowers cholesterol and blood pressure. In folk medicine, osmanthus is actively used to eliminate the symptoms of atherosclerosis, obesity and hypertension. For this, not only the bark and roots are used, but also the flowers. They contain substances that remove phlegm and eliminate coughing. The buds are brewed in the form of tea and used to prevent viral and colds.

The plant contains essential oils: geraniol, linalool and ionone derivatives. They have a beneficial effect on the nerves and heart, speeding up the metabolism and purifying the blood.

Osmanthus is used in cosmetology to care for problematic and aging skin. The plant extract has soothing, nourishing and anti-inflammatory effects. Cosmetic preparations containing osmanthus eliminate rashes. At the same time, the plant extract moisturizes and nourishes the skin, preventing it from drying out. The regenerative properties of raw materials contribute to the natural restoration of all layers of the dermis.

Osmanthus essential oils are used in perfumery. Perfume has a sweet aroma with fruity notes.

The plant has a beneficial effect on the structure of the hair. Osmanthus essential oil is an effective remedy for brittle and damaged curls. It restores the oil balance of the scalp, nourishes it and heals scratches and wounds. If it is used regularly, the hair structure is restored in a few weeks. Essential oil is used in the preparation of cosmetics for the face, body and hair. It is used in aromatherapy as a sedative and anti-inflammatory compound. There are contraindications to the use of essential oils:

• age up to 6 years;
• pregnancy.

Osmanthus tea has a positive effect on the body. It has a pleasant exotic aroma. The benefit of a healing drink is that it gives strength, vigor and confidence. Dried inflorescences of the plant are consumed with tea leaves or separately. The drink has a tonic, anti-sclerotic and antiseptic effect. Healthy tea removes toxic substances from the body and provides reliable protection. It is used to increase immunity and normalize the work of the pancreas.

Green tea with osmanthus

The drink increases concentration, strengthens the immune system and improves the functioning of the digestive system. Green tea is soothing and relaxing, while osmanthus provides a floral scent. The tool is used to prevent colds.

Osmanthus is an evergreen plant representative of the olive family. China is considered its historical homeland. In the wild, it grows in the tropical zones of Asia, the Caucasus, North America. In Russia, osmanthus is grown in a greenhouse way in the south of the Black Sea coast. There are about 30 of its species. The scented osmanthus flowers are prized by the Chinese for their scent. They are used as a natural flavoring agent in various drinks, mainly for making tea. Due to its rich composition, the plant is widely used in oriental medicine.

Botanical description

Osmanthus grows as shrubs or trees 2–10 m high. The leaves are oppositely distributed along the stem, simple, with carved edges, glossy and hard green surface. The bark is creamy green when young and darkens with age. Inflorescences bisexual, group collection, paniculate type. Corollas are small, tubular, quadruple, with stamens in the center. The hue varies from species to species - from yellow-golden to white.

The flowers smell like a fruit cocktail.

Flowering is long: it begins in September-October and ends at the end of winter. During the growing season, the petals appear 2-4 times at short intervals. The fruit is an oval dark blue drupe with one seed inside. The plant propagates better by cuttings, as the seeds require preliminary stratification (stratification). The period of their ascent is 7-18 months.

Beneficial features

The main aroma-forming components are derivatives of ionone and teaspiran. The peculiarity of the plant is due to the high content of essential oil. Its chemical composition is complex, its main elements are beta-ionone, dihydro-beta-ionone, a mixture of linalool oxide isomers, phenethyl alcohol, geraniol and linalol. The flowers contain a lot of ascorbic acid, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and other trace elements.

Osmanthus is widely used in aromatherapy and folk medicine in Eastern countries. The bark, roots and flowers of the shrub are considered medicinal raw materials. The essential oil is extracted from the flowers by extraction. In addition to a pleasant smell, the plant has therapeutic properties. It has the following effects on the body:

• anti-inflammatory;
• sedative;
• expectorant;
• anti-sclerotic;
• antiseptic;
• painkiller;
• tonic.

This is an effective remedy for colds, it improves sputum discharge, relieves spasm and inflammation of the throat, and makes breathing easier. The plant lowers bad cholesterol, cleanses and thins the blood. It is indicated for diarrhea, stomatitis, inflammation of the oral mucosa, colitis, gastritis and gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer. Tea from fragrant flowers is not only tasty, but also helps to remove toxins and harmful decay products from the body.

For people who are overweight, this is an indispensable drink in the daily diet. The active substances in its composition start the process of fat burning, improve metabolism. Decoctions and teas from osmanthus should be used for a number of gynecological diseases, menstrual irregularities, heavy discharge and associated pain. This is an effective remedy for cystitis, it also relieves a hangover. Thanks to its antiseptic properties, the plant copes with pain of any origin. Rinsing with decoctions relieves bad breath.

Means from stems and roots are used in the treatment of:

• boils and carbuncles;
• whooping cough;
• rhinitis;
• bruises and hematomas;
• atherosclerosis;
• hypertension.

Herbal compresses relieve inflammation of the eyes. Essential oil, like all other parts of the plant, has a beneficial effect on the skin (moisturizes, nourishes). This contributes to the rejuvenation of cells, prevents premature aging. With regular procedures of an external and internal nature, the result can be seen in the appearance of the skin.

For medicinal and cosmetic purposes, it is contraindicated to use the plant for people with high blood pressure and epilepsy. Tea is not recommended for pregnant and lactating women, as well as young children. Essential oil should be used for external use only.

Osmanthus in other areas

Dried inflorescences are popular in oriental cuisine, they are added not only to tea. In China, the traditional aromatic infusion "gui hua cha" is made. Flowers serve as a food additive in various pastries, sweet wines and juices, cakes, pastries and other desserts. Unripe osmanthus fruits are pickled like olives. The Chinese like to cook sweet porridge according to the national recipe from sorghum and millet and pour it with jam from the flowers of the plant. The fruity taste goes well with green and black teas of all varieties. Only a white drink is not suitable for the mixture.

If you brew osmanthus yourself, you will need 3-4 g of dry inflorescences at a time. The water temperature should be in the range of 90-95 °C. Exposure time - 3-4 minutes. It is not recommended to add flowers to expensive elite varieties of Chinese oolong tea and 25-year-old pu-erh tea.

Valuable chemical composition was also noted in cosmetology. Osmanthus extract is included in masks for problematic and aging skin. Cosmetic products with this ingredient are indicated for acne, increased sensitivity of the skin, and allergic reactions. Dry skin becomes soft and silky, the feeling of discomfort disappears. With regular use, small and mimic wrinkles disappear.

The essential oil is more valuable than the herbal component because it gives a quick and lasting result. It can be found in many cosmetic products for hair and face. Both in pure form and in the form of masks, it quickly relieves inflammation and itching. Essential oil from osmanthus is recommended in the treatment of dermatosis, furunculosis, increased pigmentation. It effectively removes old scars, smoothes the surface, brightens, starts the natural process of regeneration of the skin epidermis, and restores tone.

Osmanthus is a universal plant representative. In addition to its medicinal and nutritional uses, it is used in the perfume industry. Along with other essential oils, osmanthus is considered one of the best. It is combined with the smell of rose, sandalwood, geranium. The plant is suitable for growing in greenhouses and room conditions. It attracts gardeners with unusual leaves, small size and pleasant aroma during flowering.