Plant of the Week: Osmanthus

Handsome yet discreet, this elegant evergreen is content to take a back seat for most of the year, its holly-like leaves acting as the perfect deep green backdrop to set off brighter summer flowers to perfection. But once a year in spring, it bursts into blossom and steals the show, each snowy-white cluster of flowers richly scented to fill your garden with sweet perfume. Slow growing and unfussy, Osmanthus is happy in sun or part shade and needs little pruning to keep its neat shape. But it also responds well to clipping into hedges or topiary to provide elegant winter structure, giving you hassle-free beauty all year round.