The species is not recommended north of Sunset zone 31 and USDA zone 7 or 8 and is listed here mainly on the strength of f. aurantiacus, which is hardier and blooms orange but sadly does not rebloom like the species does.
Long bloom period (except f. aurantiacus and cultivars thereof) and legendarily fragrant (can be smelled from 100' away, if not farther). Often fruitless in cultivation. Flowers not showy, except for 'Fodingzhu' (/'Fudingzhu'/'Nanjing's Beauty'; the folks at Nurseries Caroliniana, perhaps the top nursery in the country for Osmanthus, were informed by Chinese professors that 'Fodingzhu' is the correct spelling after they had originally listed it under the incorrect 'Fudingzhu').
Denser with more sun and/or tip pruning. Prefers consistent moisture. Sandy soil tolerance is debated. Tolerates heavy clay (Odenwald/Turner are an outlier in denying this, and they're also an outlier in claiming that f. aurantiacus blooms in the spring rather than the fall).
Sources: Sunset, Dirr, UFL, Missouri BG, NCSU, Cal Poly, Odenwald/Turner.
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