Osmanthus in Tazhi

Osmanthus in Tazhi

　　Osmanthus in Tazhi:

　　Osmanthus, also known as sweet osmanthus, belongs to the genus Osmanthus of the family Oleaceae.

　　[Development History] The osmanthus from Tazhi in Beilun District is widely renowned and is a traditional product of Ningbo. Legend has it that its place of origin was Cangjuelong in the southern hills of Hangzhou, and it was brought here by Lady Guishi, the wife of the patriotic Confucian scholar Lu Yuan, during the late Northern Song Dynasty, boasting a history of over a thousand years. In modern times, before the 1930s there was a significant amount of osmanthus in Tazhi, but its numbers gradually declined afterward. Although there was some development starting in the 1950s, the growth of osmanthus—as a perennial woody plant—takes a long time from planting to harvest, resulting in slow expansion. Currently, there are 1,620 osmanthus trees of various sizes in Tazhi, with a harvest of 26 tons of osmanthus in 1988.

　　[Product Value] Osmanthus holds high economic value as a premium natural fragrance, extensively used in food and high-end cosmetics such as osmanthus wine, osmanthus tea, osmanthus sugar, osmanthus dew, and osmanthus-scented cakes. The Food Factory of Dadiqi Supply and Marketing Cooperative began processing osmanthus sugar in the 1960s. Osmanthus sugar serves as an auxiliary ingredient in making mooncakes, ma bing (sesame cakes), Ningbo tangyuan (dumplings), sweet soups, and other pastries, offering vibrant color and delicious aroma. It is highly favored by consumers, with most of its products sold to counties (cities) within the city and larger cities like Shanghai and Suzhou.

　　The flower buds, leaves, and bark of osmanthus also have medicinal value, helping to relieve coughs and dissolve phlegm.

　　Osmanthus trees are evergreen all year round, with elegant shapes and enchantingly fragrant blossoms, making them a famous ornamental tree species commonly planted in southern gardens.

　　[Suitable Growing Conditions] Osmanthus trees are quite adaptable to climate and soil conditions, but they thrive best in warm temperate and subtropical climates with moderate temperatures and abundant rainfall. They grow well in deep, fertile, moist, and well-drained soils.

　　[Cultivation Techniques] Osmanthus offers both high economic value and ornamental appeal, serving as a dual-purpose tree species suitable for garden greening and commercial horticulture. Osmanthus adapts well to various environments, has a long economic lifespan, and is suitable for planting around houses without competing for land with other crops.

　　(1) Propagation: Osmanthus can be propagated through layering and seeds. Generally, osmanthus trees begin to bloom and bear fruit 6–8 years after planting. When collecting seeds, choose high-quality parent plants, dry them after collection, and then winnow them. For autumn sowing, seeds can be directly planted after harvesting; for spring sowing, store the seeds in bags in a dry and ventilated place until needed. Field-style row sowing is commonly used for seedling cultivation. Before sowing, carry out deep plowing and fine raking, apply sufficient base fertilizer prior to plowing, disinfect the soil, irrigate adequately to keep the soil moist.

　　(2) Planting: Osmanthus is suitable for scattered planting around houses or in clusters on hillsides and slopes. The typical spacing is 4 meters between rows and 3–4 meters between plants, with 42–56 plants per mu. Large nursery plants of 5–6 years old with root balls can be transplanted in late autumn or early spring.

　　(3) Fertilization: Young osmanthus orchards require annual soil loosening, weeding, and fertilization. Mature osmanthus orchards need two rounds of fertilization per year: one is the winter fertilizer, applied using radial or circular trench methods; the other is the summer fertilizer, applied during June to August as a flowering-promoting fertilizer.

　　(4) Pruning: In winter, prune crossing branches, water sprouts, dense branches, diseased branches, and excessive inner branches to shape the tree into a rounded dome. Also take measures for the prevention and control of pests and diseases.