Debbien’s Question

Sadly, I had to pull out a smallish, apple-blighted crabapple (a resistant variety!). It only had crabapples on it the year I brought it home from the nursery. It has only bloomed, and never fruited, since; so “off with its head.” I want to fill its spot with another shrub or tree for winter interest there and have been admiring the Osmanthus fragrans “Aurantiacus” [Orange (or apricot)-flowering fragrant tea olive – it reminds me of plumeria/frangipani] shrub that I saw featured in Portland’s Lan Su Classical Chinese Garden (which is Zone 7b). Some web sites state this shrub needs a Zone 8 or warmer home; others say Zone 7b. What do you think are my chances of this beauty thriving in my zone 7b garden?

Posted by Debbie Nighswonger on August 30, 2013