I wanted to report a success: Osmanthus burkwoodii has done very well in a fairly exposed northwest facing location with sunny Victoria area afternoons [shade in mornings], showing absolutely no leaf damage in the 2008-9 cold winter, growing steadily but moderately, blooming now in its 2 1/2 year with jasmine-like small white flowers, and absolutely ignored by the deer. This I will plant more of, it is a useful evergreen landscaping shrub [mine has rather small dull-surfaced pointed, tough but quite attractive slightly grayish-green leaves] in an area with much deer depredation. I assume it prefers a well-drained location. It is said to make a good hedge.
Frequently used in the region for a long time, in a variety of exposures. One near us here is a small tree, if still present after the original property was subdivided.
Too bad these things lose "presence" in the marketplace, sometimes, as they are often just what someone is looking for.
One in the Camano Island, WA (Island County) garden has been a cloud of flowers recently. It is now well above head height.
Wonderful. I have learned so much since 2006, when we moved from Nova Scotia [roses, lilacs, Weigelas, hydrangeas] about the local plant "stars", and this forum has helped a lot. Books have helped too, fortunately Pacific NW gardening has been written about pretty thoroughly. It will be a while before my Osmanthus burkwoodii reaches above head height, but it is now about hip or waist height and has filled out nicely.
