What is the difference between golden osmanthus and August osmanthus? A quick guide to telling them apart
1. Golden osmanthus
This is a tree that can stay green year-round, relatively small in size, with a crown that is generally a round sphere. The tree is fairly robust, the branches are very straight, and they grow densely. The bark is generally gray and has lenticels, usually round or oval. In spring the branches are thicker and can grow to about 16 cm. The leaves are emerald green, leathery, and look very smooth. The leaves are oval-shaped, with some serrations along the edges. The flowers are yellow, very fragrant, and it does not produce fruit. It usually blooms in autumn, and the flower color ranges from deep to light, but all are in the yellow range.
2. August osmanthus
Like the former, it is also evergreen and a small tree. The crown shape is likewise a round sphere, the thick branches generally spread out, and the branches and leaves are very dense; its growth momentum is very good and it looks full of vitality. The bark is light gray, with numerous and relatively large lenticels that look like snowflake shapes.
In spring the branches are shorter than those of the former, only about 15.5 cm. The newly grown twigs are generally brownish red and very eye-catching. The leaves are green or dark green, very glossy, and generally long oval. The leaves are very large and relatively wide, and quite thick, with edges that curl back slightly. It blooms in early to mid-September, and the flower color is similar to the former and also very fragrant. After blooming, it likewise does not produce fruit.
3. Differences
1. The former's leaves are very smooth, with small teeth along the edges, and the leaf tips are relatively pointed; the leaves are relatively wide, relatively soft, and dark blue-green in color. The former is a type of the latter, and the latter also includes silver osmanthus; silver osmanthus tends toward white in color, and its fragrance is lighter than that of golden osmanthus.
2. The former's flowers are all in the yellow range, only differing in depth of shade. The fragrance is very strong, the flowers drop easily, it blooms in autumn, and it is planted in many places across the country. Among the latter, silver osmanthus is lighter in color, has a lighter fragrance, and its flowers generally do not drop easily; it is generally rarely planted.