Osmanthus americanus Benth. & Hook.f

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘Osmanthus Americanus inhabits the coast region of the south Atlantic and Gulf states from the valley of the Cape Fear River in North Carolina to the shores of the Kissimmee River and Tampa Bay, Florida, and eastern Louisiana.  It grows usually in moist rich soil near the borders of streams and Pine-barren ponds and swamps, and occasionally on dry sandy upland.

The wood of Osmanthus Americanus is heavy, very hard and strong, close-grained, and difficult to work; it contains radiating groups of open cells arranged parallel with the thin obscure medullary rays, and is dark brown, with thick light brown or yellow sapwood.  The specific gravity of the absolutely dry wood is 0.8111, a cubic foot weighing 50.55 pounds.

The Devil Wood, which owes its popular name to the character of the wood, which is difficult to split, was first described by Mark Catesby in the Natural History of Carolina, and was introduced into Europe in the middle of the eighteenth century.  It is now rarely cultivated, although its large lustrous leaves, its fragrant flowers and handsome fruit make it a desirable inhabitant of the gardens of temperate regions.’  [Sargent - Silva of North America vol.6, p.66, t.CLLXXIX/1894].

Introduced to Europe in 1758.  [Don].

History at Camden Park

Listed in all published catalogues [T.712/1843].

Notes