What Are the Varieties of Osmanthus? An Introduction to Common Osmanthus Varieties and Their Characteristics
Osmanthus is the collective name for many trees of the Osmanthus genus in China, and is one of China's ten traditional famous flowers. Pure enough to banish all dust, rich enough to carry far and wide, it can be called matchless, an excellent tree species that combines beautification, greening and fragrance, with both ornamental and practical value. It has a planting history of more than two thousand five hundred years in our country, and has been deeply loved by the broad masses of the Chinese people since ancient times. It is commonly planted throughout the vast regions south of the Yellow River in our country.
Because our country has a very long history of osmanthus cultivation, through long-term cultivation, artificial selection and natural hybridization, osmanthus has already formed many osmanthus cultivated varieties. Based on extensive field records and surveys in many places, and through analysis and comparison of the flowering traits of osmanthus, it has been preliminarily determined that osmanthus already has thirty-two varieties, roughly divided into the following four variety groups:
1. The Four Seasons Osmanthus variety group
The osmanthus of the Four Seasons Osmanthus variety group has a relatively low-growing, clumping shrub form, with a spherical crown and relatively short, dense branches. The biggest characteristic of the Four Seasons Osmanthus is that it basically blooms every month regardless of how many flowers there are, but the fragrance of the flowers is relatively faint, so it can only serve a long-term ornamental purpose.
The more famous Four Seasons Osmanthus varieties include Yueyuegui, Daye Fodingzhu, Ch'iye Sijigui, Rixianggui and so on.
2. The Dan Gui variety group
The Dan Gui variety group is also an evergreen shrub-type osmanthus tree, with a spherical crown. The biggest characteristic of Dan Gui is that the flowers it opens are orange-red, which is also the origin of its variety name. Among the generally white or yellow osmanthus, the orange-red Dan Gui is very eye-catching and can grab people's attention at a glance, and its fragrance is also very intense, making people feel joyful when they smell it.
The more common varieties among Dan Gui include Mantiaohong, Yanhonggui, Zhuangyuanhong and so on. Dan Gui is a relatively precious osmanthus variety; many osmanthus of the Dan Gui variety group are famous, superior and precious varieties among osmanthus, and are all very precious ornamental plants.
3. The Jin Gui variety group
The osmanthus trees of the Jin Gui variety group belong to evergreen small trees, with a spherical crown, upright trunks and branches, and dense twigs. The flower color of the Jin Gui variety group is mostly golden yellow or yellow-white, and the floral fragrance is rich, giving it high ornamental value.
The main common varieties include Qiugui, Jinqiugui, Liuyesugui and so on, all of which are very representative osmanthus varieties. Especially Qiugui, whose flower shape takes the form of a small flower ball, is very eye-catching, and its fragrance is also relatively rich and refreshing, making it an osmanthus variety with high ornamental value.
4. The Yin Gui variety group
The osmanthus trees of the Yin Gui variety group belong to evergreen small trees, with a spherical crown and dense branches and leaves. The fragrance of Yin Gui is not as rich as that of Jin Gui, and the flower color is also relatively elegant and mostly consists of small white-yellow flowers.
The more common Yin Gui varieties include Yulinglong, Liuyeyingui, Jiulonggui and so on, all of which are relatively representative osmanthus varieties. Moreover, because they generally bloom in autumn, they are also called August Osmanthus.
The above are the osmanthus cultivated varieties brought to you by the Tuliu.com editor. We hope they can be of some help to everyone.