Differences and Characteristics of Golden Osmanthus, Chenxiang Osmanthus, Four-Season Osmanthus, and Dan Gui

Osmanthus is the common name for many varieties in the Chinese Osmanthus genus, but there are many horticultural varieties of osmanthus, among which the most common and most popular varieties are Golden Osmanthus, Chenxiang Osmanthus, Dan Gui, and Four-Season Osmanthus. So what are the characteristics of Golden Osmanthus, Chenxiang Osmanthus, Dan Gui, and Four-Season Osmanthus? How can they be distinguished?

Chenxiang Osmanthus. Its characteristics are many flowers and a strong fragrance, flower color from orange-yellow to orange-red, lush plants, emerald green leaves, slender leaves, smooth leaf surface, strong adaptability, long lifespan, cold and drought tolerant, beautiful plant shape, flowering in autumn, long flowering period, beautiful and attractive flower color, and its fragrance is even more fragrant than that of Golden Osmanthus.

Golden Osmanthus. The leaves are large and oval, with the middle of the leaf lower and the two sides slightly higher; the leaf color is among the lighter colors in osmanthus, the branches are upright and very dense. The bark is gray, and it blooms golden-yellow flowers with a rich fragrance. It blooms abundantly, flowers in autumn, and the flowering period is nearly two months.

Four-Season Osmanthus. Among the Four-Season Osmanthus, the most popular is certainly Rixiang Gui. Rixiang Gui is a special variety within Four-Season Osmanthus; if the temperature is suitable, it can bloom in all four seasons, the flower color is pale yellow tending toward white, the floral fragrance is light, the leaves are long or long-round lanceolate, and the leaves are relatively thin.

Dan Gui. Dan Gui leaves are relatively flat, long oval or oval, the leaves are thicker, the color is dark, the texture feels slightly rough, the form is full and full of vitality, the corolla lobes are ovate, the flower color is red, beautiful and attractive, the fragrance is moderate, it blooms in autumn, and the flowering period is nearly two months.

Osmanthus has a pungent and warm nature and is non-toxic; when used as medicine, it has effects such as resolving phlegm, relieving cough, promoting fluid production, and stopping toothache. Freshly picked osmanthus can be used to make osmanthus cake, osmanthus sugar, and osmanthus wine, etc. It is an excellent cultivated flower that combines ornamental value, fragrance, edible use, and medicinal use.