What family does the osmanthus belong to? A detailed explanation of the osmanthus family and genus classification

Osmanthus is a plant of the Oleaceae family, also known as rock osmanthus. It is an evergreen shrub or small tree of the Oleaceae family, with hard wood and thin bark, and opposite, oblong leaves with pointed tips that do not wither through winter. It has many horticultural varieties and is mostly used as a street tree, in gardens, as potted plants and other tree species. Below are several common varieties for everyone to learn about.

Introduction to common osmanthus varieties

1. Tianxiang Taige

Tianxiang Taige can bloom all year round, with the heaviest blooming from September to April of the following year. Its fragrance is unusually strong, its flowers are large in diameter, its flower shape is variable, and its flower color is diverse, making it superior to other varieties in the Sijigui group. At present, it is widely planted in the ground throughout the Yangtze River basin, the Huai River basin and areas south of the lower reaches of the Yellow River, and is mostly grown in pots in northern regions.

2. Bay laurel

Bay laurel is evergreen all year round, with a graceful tree form and a rich fragrance. It is suitable for planting in courtyards and in front of buildings, and the variegated-leaf form is especially attractive. Used in a front courtyard as a green wall to divide space and provide screening, it also works well. It is native to the Mediterranean, and has currently been introduced and cultivated in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Fujian, Taiwan, China, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces.

3. Zhusha Dangui

Zhusha Dangui has orange-red flowers, with the corolla slightly incurved; the fragrance is mild. The flowering period is from late September to early October. It is produced in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shanghai and Henan.

4. Huangchuan Jingui

Huangchuan Jingui is a specialty of Huangchuan County, Henan Province, and is a Chinese national geographical indication product. In addition to blooming at the same time as the above varieties in autumn from September—October, it can also bloom again every 2 or 3 months as a Sijigui.

5. Wan Yingui

Wan Yingui is the main osmanthus variety cultivated in the area south of the Yangtze River in China, commonly known locally as Wanhuang. It is a cultivated horticultural variety, grown for ornamental purposes.

In addition, there are many more osmanthus varieties in the Oleaceae family, such as Boye Jingui, Zhusha Dangui, Yingye Dangui, Zao Yingui, Hangzhou Huang, Fodingzhu, Rixianggui and others.