Beautiful big plant! I have read that Osmanthus is the one scent that everyone likes. Sounds like you're verifying that :)

I don't know about the gravel at the bottom of the pot. A clay pot gives you plenty of weight, and has the added benefit of making it harder to overwater.

For light, I don't think you can beat a south window, but if you have outdoor space, I would limit the indoor time to winter.

It will benefit from being put outside next spring and being kept out all summer.

Enjoy your beautiful plant.

Thanks, mehitabel!

Our Wal-Mart has terra cotta pots for $1.00 each! I picked up four of them (three six inch, one smaller one that was 85 cents and the saucer with it was only 50 cents) that I repotted some of my hoyas into and the small one I put cuttings in for my friend for Christmas. Anyhow, I'm thinking of putting it into a terra cotta pot. I think they look more old fashioned. I put gravel in the bottom of those terra cotta pots and they still drain nicely and are a little sturdier (you never know when accidents will happen).

I will definitely put it outside in the spring. Almost all my houseplants go outdoors for the spring and summer.

Brad AKA Moonwolf

Brad,
Congratulations!
The sweet olive is beautiful!
She's blooming too? Awesome!
Welcome to your new addiction!
I love the fragrance of the sweet olive, and the bigger they get the more fragrant!
I wish I could bottle that scent, I would make a fortune....
Anyway, she will love the sun in the summer.
SO, put her in your south facing window for sun in the winter, she will bloom better there also.
They love humidity, so try not to have it right next to a heating vent.
Now you will see why everyone is so addicted to these plants to a fault.

Hi Butterfly,

Mom said that if they'd make a perfume of it, she'd wear it! I bought five terra cotta pots and saucers at Wal-Mart today (they were being discontinued for the year and I bought some the week before last at the same prices) and I'm going to repot her in one of them. There are vents (two) in the room it's in (the hobby room where the computer is, right beside me and I can catch whiffs of it) and it's surrounded by a few of my other houseplants (hoyas), two of which I set humidity trays (piepans with the gravel in them) so I think she'll be pretty happy. Oh I named her Kakyuu (Japanese for fireball) after a character in a anime/manga series called Sailor Moon (she's a princess that bears this fragrance and has the flower motif in her outfit). I'll post a link to her picture and theme. In the picture, she's the one wearing the red dress. I could take a nap with the fragrance in the air and this song playing.

Brad AKA Moonwolf

Here is a link that might be useful: Princess Kakyuu's Theme

Moonwolf, that's exactly how I felt when I first encountered a sweet olive over twenty years ago. I was in a nursery, and followed a lovely scent to a gnarled old plant, severely pruned back to a trunk thicker than my thumb with tiny white flowers on it. Had never known such a beautiful thing existed.

Took it home of course!

Your plant will love living with someone who breathes life and love on it every day. Enjoy!

Mehitabel, thank you for the nice complements! How long did you have your plant?

Brad AKA Moonwolf

I had it for several years, but gave it up for some reason I forget, probably too busy for it. Then I had it again about 6 years ago, and have it still again now.

Hi Brad,
Is that the Auranticus variety?

I mean var. Aurantiacus? Just asking because the flowers look kinda yellow/orange in the second pic. I read that it has a slightly different scent from the other Osmanthus...

Here is a link that might be useful:

Nope, just plain old Osmanthus fragrans. The flowers are a creamy yellow color but they aren't the flaming orange color of Auratiacus.

How does everyone like the song?

Brad AKA Moonwolf