San Jose Osmanthus | Fragrant Evergreen Hedge & Screen

San Jose Osmanthus

5 Gallon

$69.90

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San Jose Osmanthus

Osmanthus fortunei ‘San Jose’

A fast-growing, tough evergreen ideal for tall, fragrant, and formidable security hedges.

$69.90

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+1 650-241-8858 (SMS ok)

Bay Area–Based Nursery

We specialize in plants grown and delivered in their original pots and soil.
Because of their size and weight, our plants are not suitable for long-distance shipping and are delivered locally to ensure health and quality.

While delivery is limited to our local service area, we’re happy to support garden design and plant selection remotely.

For local plant professionals, we’re always glad to connect and explore ways to support your customers.

San Jose Osmanthus is a tall, vigorous, and exceptionally hardy evergreen hybrid, ideal for creating a dense, fragrant, and impenetrable tall hedge or screen. It features narrow, sharply spined, holly-like leaves that are darker and finer-textured than other varieties. In autumn, it produces abundant clusters of small, intensely fragrant white flowers with a fruity apricot scent. Fast-growing for an Osmanthus, upright, and incredibly adaptable, it is a top choice for a low-maintenance, deer-proof privacy barrier in sun or shade.

Tall, Fast-Growing Screen: A vigorous, upright grower that can quickly form a dense, tall hedge or screen up to 15-25 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide.
Fragrant Autumn Flowers: Blooms heavily in fall with sweetly fragrant white flowers that perfume the air.
Fine-Textured, Spiny Foliage: Has narrow, dark green leaves with numerous fine spines, creating a very effective and formidable barrier.
Unmatched Toughness & Adaptability: Thrives in full sun to full shade, is highly drought-tolerant once established, and resists pests, diseases, deer, and rabbits.
Low Maintenance: Requires little care beyond occasional pruning to control height or width. It responds well to shearing for formal hedges.

Knowing how we measure the size?

When browsing our plants, you may notice size terms such as Gallon, Multi, or Stand. These describe how a plant is grown, containerized, or structured at the time of sale — not just its height. Understanding these terms will help you choose the right plant for your space and expectations.

🌱 Gallon Size (Container Size)

Gallon refers to the size of the nursery container the plant is currently growing in (e.g. 1 Gallon, 5 Gallon, 15 Gallon).

A larger gallon size generally means:
- A more established root system
- A sturdier plant
- Faster visual impact after planting
Example:
- 5 Gallon: Ideal for residential gardens, easy to handle, good balance of value and maturity
- 15 Gallon: More mature, provides quicker results in the landscape

Note: Gallon size does not guarantee a specific height, as growth varies by species.

🌳 Multi (Multi-Trunk / Multi-Branch Form)

Multi indicates the plant has multiple trunks or main stems growing from the base.

Commonly used for:
- Ornamental trees
- Feature plants
- Japanese maples, olives, crepe myrtles, etc.
Why choose Multi:
- Fuller, more sculptural appearance
- Strong visual presence even at younger ages
- Popular for design-focused landscapes

🌲 Stand (Single-Trunk / Standard Form)

Stand (short for Standard) refers to a single, dominant trunk with a raised or naturally formed canopy.

Commonly used for:
- Shade trees
- Street trees
- Orchard and structural plantings
Why choose Stand:
- Clean, classic tree form
- Easier clearance for walkways and lawns
- Preferred for long-term structure and uniformity

🌿 Choosing the Right Size

If you want instant impact → larger Gallon, Multi form
If you want long-term structure → Stand form
If you want flexibility and value → mid-size Gallon containers

If you’re unsure which size or form fits your project, our team is happy to help you select the best option based on your space, timeline, and design goals.

Features:Foliage: Narrow, oval, thick, leathery leaves with finely toothed, spiny margins (holly-like), creating a dense, glossy, deep green foliage cover.Flowers: Small, intensely fragrant, creamy-white, four-petaled flowers are borne in clusters along the stems in fall. The scent is often described as a blend of gardenia and apricot.Habit: A dense, upright, evergreen shrub or small tree with a compact, columnar to oval growth habit.
Mature Height: 15-25 ft.
Mature Width: 6-10 ft.
Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate
Light Needs: Full sun to partial shade
Key Advantages:Exceptionally fragrant fall flowers.Dense, spiny foliage makes an excellent barrier hedge.Drought tolerant once established.Deer resistant.Tolerates pruning and shaping well
Landscape Uses:Privacy screen or tall hedge.Fragrance garden.Foundation planting for large buildings.Specimen shrub

Q: How far apart should I plant them for a hedge?
A: For a dense hedge, space plants approximately 3 to 4 feet apart, center to center. For a more immediate screen, you can plant them as close as 2.5 feet apart, but ensure they have good air circulation.

Q: Is it really pest and disease free?
A: It is notably resistant to most common pests and diseases. Scale or spider mites can occasionally occur under stress, but these are rare. Its primary appeal is its robust, trouble-free nature in the landscape.