Five out of eight Goshikis agree, they can make it through winter in my garden!
So my Osmanthus ‘Goshiki’ story starts a year ago December, when I found myself in a big box store, and also found scores of tiny Osmanthus ‘Goshiki’ in foil-wrapped pots advertised as Christmas decorations. As in, probably most people would buy them and throw them out. The nerve!
I had had my eye on ‘Goshiki’ for a while, since I’d been pining for Osmanthus fragrans, the smells-like-heaven sweet olive, ever since I left the South, and though ‘Goshiki’ is only rumored MAYBE to bloom with fragrance a FRACTION of that plant, I’d been thinking of giving it a shot. If nothing else, its variegation is great.
But don’t let those Zone 6 hardiness tags fool you — ‘Goshiki’ is very much a marginal. I had a conversation with Kris Green of Blithewold about it over on their blog a while back. They’ve lost ‘Goshiki’, and they’re further south than I am. Still, they sell it at the tree/shrub nursery I buy from in even-colder Concord, N.H., so I figured it for a worthy marginal nonetheless.
I bought two pots that December at the big box store. Each pot had four baby Goshikis. I planted them all together in a bigger pot, overwintered them (something I’m terrible at, mind you, which is why I bought so few), and planted them out the following spring. Did they grow? A tad. Did they survive? Yes. Fall came, I sprayed them with an organic anti-dessicant and crossed my fingers as it began to snow, and snow… And snow some more.
Last week, the Goshikis finally emerged. And guess what? Five out of eight made it through like champs! Observe at right. The three that don’t look so great were the runts of the litter anyway, and who knows? Maybe they’ll put on new growth. Who knows how long it’ll take these guys to get big, but isn’t that the fun of gardening? Let’s hope my meager ‘Goshiki’ investment continues to pay off. I’ll certainly keep you posted.
{ 6 comments }
Are they fragrant?
Hi Greggo, thanks for commenting! Well, I won’t know until they bloom, so it could be a while. I’ve heard varying reports from “Yes, they smell fantastic!” to “They’re okay, if you can’t grow sweet olive.”
Great plants…good luck with them…I love Goshikis and finally bought two for my garden at a nursery sale last week…now the fun part…rearranging stuff to make room for them!
@Dennis: I’m so with you on that! I try to be a good designer and plan things to a degree, but I’m not one shy away from rearranging to fit a new find. Hope yours do well!
Personally not my sort of thing, love the plain and the dark purpley one, but not this form! But chacun a son gout and all that. And I sure admire your enthusiasm and persistence. May you win through with your Goshiki forest!
Best
R
Oh no! I think this is my first-ever non-effusive comment from you, Mr. Webber! My world is falling apart!
KIDDING! To each his own indeed. I like the plain form too, though you don’t see it for sale much here. Have you ever had either bloom? Is the fragrance anywhere near as good as O. fragrans?
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