Five colour phases
The Japanese name refers to several tones coexisting on one crown.
Osmanthus 'goshiki' 13cm
Normal price
€9,50
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Osmanthus ‘Goshiki’
- Five foliage tones
- Pink young growth
- Scented white flowers
- RHS Award of Garden Merit
Osmanthus ‘Goshiki’ is an evergreen shrub with variegated leathery leaves combining green, cream, yellow, pink and copper across different growth ages. Young leaves open warm-toned and often spiny before maturing into a steadier green-cream mosaic. Small white flowers appear in autumn and add sweet fragrance to a crown already functioning as permanent colour structure.
Beside a bright, partly shaded entrance, the pale mosaic stands out against a dark background. It can serve as a permanent point of colour in a border or a large pot. The contrast between pink young tips and mature green leaves keeps the composition lively even when the shrub is not flowering.
RHS Award of Garden Merit.
What makes it distinctive
Three elements define this exact cultivar’s form and presence.
Spiny juvenile form
Young leaves carry stronger teeth, while mature leaves often become more entire.
Autumn fragrance
Small white flowers hide among the leaves but announce themselves through scent.
Why you will love it: because five colour phases gains a clear presence on a dense slow-growing evergreen shrub, without excessive styling.
In the garden & on the terracePlacement & plant combinationsAllow 1–1.5 m for the mature crown and avoid fierce afternoon sun scorching the variegation.
Ideal position
Allow 1–1.5 m for the mature crown and avoid fierce afternoon sun scorching the variegation.
Compatible combinations
Choose contrasting textures that share sun or light shade, good drainage and a compatible watering scale.
- Sarcococca confusa — dark glossy foliage and winter scent create a calm evergreen background
- Helleborus orientalis — low winter flowers fill the base before pink new growth
- Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ — arching gold-green blades repeat the palette in a completely different texture
Care at a glance
Light
Sun or light partial shade, protecting variegated foliage from extreme afternoon heat.
Watering
Water when the upper few centimetres of soil have dried and never leave water standing.
Climate & resilience
An evergreen shrub for a sheltered outdoor position; protect container roots from prolonged hard frost.
Safety
An ornamental plant, not for eating. Keep leaves, flowers and any fruit away from chewing.
Detailed careComplete care guideLight, watering, soil, feeding, pruning and problem prevention.
Position & light
Sun or light partial shade, protecting variegated foliage from extreme afternoon heat.
Watering & drainage
Water when the upper few centimetres of soil have dried and never leave water standing.
Soil & repotting
Organic free-draining soil from slightly acidic to neutral, with rapid removal of surplus water.
Feeding
One light application of balanced feed in early spring is enough for steady new growth.
Pruning & habit
Correct wayward or dead stems selectively after the main growth and retain the natural habit. Remove only stems that disturb the natural crown and avoid cutting deeply into old bare wood.
Problem prevention
Watch for spotting when foliage stays wet and chlorosis in very lime-rich compost.
Development through timeFrom establishment to mature habitFrom first establishment to the exact plant’s natural mature habit.
First season
During the first season it directs energy into root establishment and a few strong new shoots rather than filling its final space immediately.
Establishment
New tips fill gaps in the woody framework and the natural crown becomes denser without changing its basic growth type.
Mature scale
With long-term growth it reaches about 1–1.5 m in height and 1–1.5 m in width, forming a dense slow-growing evergreen shrub.
Mature habit & dimensions
10–20 yearsHeight 1–1.5 mWidth 1–1.5 mdense slow-growing evergreen shrub
Woody stems form a compact crown of spiny, variegated leaves. The cream mosaic persists year-round, with young tips adding warmer tones.
Form through time
Seasonal cycleEvergreen structuredense slow-growing evergreen shrubYoung and mature foliage
Warm seasonWoody stems form a compact crown of spiny, variegated leaves. The cream mosaic persists year-round, with young tips adding warmer tones.
Winter habitFoliage remains under suitable conditions. Slower growth and reduced flowering change the display without removing the basic architecture.
The studies show habit and seasonal development; growth varies with age, climate and cultivation.
What to expect after planting: New tips add pink and bronze tones while older leaves retain their cream-and-green mosaic. Woody branching gradually fills out the shrub.
History & originCultivar originA Japanese name meaning “five colours” describes the mosaic of young and mature foliage.
Osmanthus ‘Goshiki’ is a Japanese cultivated selection of Osmanthus heterophyllus. Its name means “five colours” and describes foliage at different ages: new tips emerge pink or bronze before developing the familiar green, cream and yellowish mosaic.
The selection entered gardens for this lasting colour character, combined with the species’ leathery leaves and distinctive teeth. Its original breeder and exact introduction year are not known. The name thus describes a colour story repeated with each new flush of growth.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical detail for anyone who wants to know what lies behind the plant’s appearance
Age-related heterophylly
Juvenile leaves are usually spinier, while higher and older growth often produces less toothed blades.
Three pigment systems in one flush
Cream and yellow sectors contain less functional chlorophyll, while pink and bronze tones in young growth come from anthocyanins overlaying the green tissue.
Frequently asked questions
Six practical answers covering position, water, seasonality, pruning, mature scale and safety.
01How much light does it need?
Sun or light partial shade, protecting variegated foliage from extreme afternoon heat.
02When should it be watered?
Water when the upper few centimetres of soil have dried and never leave water standing.
03Can it stay permanently in a pot?
Yes, in a container matched to its final scale, with open drainage holes and the upper compost refreshed each spring.
04When and how should it be pruned?
Correct wayward or dead stems selectively after the main growth and retain the natural habit.
05How large does it become?
At maturity it reaches about 1–1.5 m high and 1–1.5 m wide, with a natural dense slow-growing evergreen shrub.
06Is it safe to eat or for pets?
An ornamental plant, not for eating. Keep leaves, flowers and any fruit away from chewing.
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Individual protection
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