The Tea Olive shrub, native to southeastern China, is a delightful evergreen shrub that boasts incredibly sweet and fragrant flowers. These small flowers, ranging in color from white to pale yellow, yellow, or orange-yellow, measure about 1 cm long and have a four-lobed corolla with a diameter of 5 mm. Emitting a strong fragrance, they bloom in small clusters during the late summer and autumn seasons. In the spring, approximately six months after flowering, the Tea Olive plant produces purple-black drupes that are 10-15 mm long. These drupes contain a single hard-shelled seed and add a touch of beauty to the plant. With its dark evergreen foliage, the Tea Olive plant is an excellent choice for hedges, screens, or as an individual specimen plant. Its versatility and stunning features make it a must-have for any garden or landscape. (USDA Zones 7-10)