How big does a tea olive get?

It depends on the type - anywhere from 6 to 30 feet. Holly tea olive stays around 8 to 10 feet, fragrant tea olive is usually 10 to 12 feet in the Piedmont, and all of them can be sheared as a hedge down to about 4 feet. Want it kept as a neat hedge? We can shear and shape it for you.

How fast does tea olive grow?

Slow to moderate - roughly a few inches to a foot a year, faster in rich, well-watered soil. Plan on a hedge filling in over a few seasons rather than one.

Is tea olive deer-resistant?

Yes, tea olives are fairly deer-resistant. The aromatic foliage and, on the holly and Fortune's types, the spiny leaves deter browsing.

When does tea olive bloom?

Mainly in fall, October into November. Fragrant tea olive is the exception, blooming for about two months in fall with scattered flowers through winter into spring.

Does tea olive grow in North Carolina?

Yes. Most tea olives are hardy in zones 7 to 9. Holly and Fortune's tea olive are the reliable picks for the colder Triangle; fragrant tea olive is marginal here and should be sited in a warm, protected spot. Once it is in the ground, our tree and shrub maintenance plan keeps it fed and protected through our winters.

Does tea olive need sun or shade?

Full sun to part shade. Full sun gives the densest growth and the heaviest bloom; deep shade makes it thin and spindly.

How far apart should I plant tea olive for a hedge?

For a tight privacy screen, roughly 4 to 5 feet on center; give specimen plants more room. Remember it grows slowly, so closer spacing fills in sooner. If you would rather not dig, we handle tree and shrub planting across the Triangle.

Are tea olives hard to grow?

No - they are long-lived and nearly pest-free. Watch for occasional scale (treat with horticultural oil) and root rot in soggy soil. Otherwise they are low-maintenance. They are low-maintenance, but if scale or disease shows up we offer tree and shrub pest control — and our shrub and tree disease treatment guide walks through the rest.

Author: Ken Erickson

Ken is the unofficial chief of operations for LawnPanther.com. He handles the website content, marketing and engineering, as well as running the turf and weed control side of the business. He plays a supporting role, helping his son Aidan run Lawn Panther. Ken resides in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, and is licensed by the state of North Carolina to apply herbicides and pesticides on turf and ornamental plants such as shrubs and trees. His background is in environmental biology, chemistry and safety engineering. He formulates the herbicide and fertilizer programs applied across the south Raleigh suburbs for Lawn Panther. Ken is a life member of The American Legion, Post 116 and the Disabled American Veterans. Since Ken has been retired he spends his time in his large yard planting and cultivating landscapes. He is very familiar with most of the ornamentals grown in the south as well as diseases and treatments. Ken writes Lawn Panther's technical content on turf science, weed identification, pesticide handling, application safety and environmental stewardship. He personally comes out to consult with clients regarding many issues on plant health.

Trees and Shrubs
Tea Olive in North Carolina: The South’s Most Fragrant Evergreen (and Which Type Survives the Triangle)
ByKen Erickson August 13, 2026August 24, 2026
Tea Olive in North Carolina: The South’s Most Fragrant Evergreen (and Which Type Survives the Triangle) By Ken Erickson · Updated August 2026 If you have ever walked through a Southern garden in October and stopped dead because something smelled incredible, odds are it was tea olive. The flowers are tiny and easy to miss,…
Read More Tea Olive in North Carolina: The South’s Most Fragrant Evergreen (and Which Type Survives the Triangle)
Lawn Pests & Disease | Weed Control
What a Pro Puts Down on His Own Bermuda Lawn: Weeds, Grubs and Fungus
ByKen Erickson July 24, 2026August 24, 2026
What a Pro Puts Down on His Own Bermuda Lawn: Weeds, Grubs and Fungus By Ken Erickson · Updated August 2026 There’s no best weed killer for bermuda grass. There’s a calendar. I’m licensed by the state of North Carolina to apply herbicides and pesticides on turf and ornamental plants, I spray Triangle lawns every…
Read More What a Pro Puts Down on His Own Bermuda Lawn: Weeds, Grubs and Fungus
Landscape Upgrades
Storm and Hurricane Prep for Your Landscape and Trees in North Carolina
ByKen Erickson July 18, 2026August 24, 2026
Storm and Hurricane Prep for Your Landscape and Trees in North Carolina By Ken Erickson · Updated June 2026 Good storm prep for trees starts long before the forecast. We do not get direct hurricane hits out here in the Triangle, but we get the remnants – the heavy rain and gusty wind bands that…
Read More Storm and Hurricane Prep for Your Landscape and Trees in North Carolina
Trees and Shrubs
Dwarf and Shrub Crepe Myrtle Varieties for North Carolina: Pick the Right Size
ByKen Erickson July 18, 2026August 24, 2026
Dwarf and Shrub Crepe Myrtle Varieties for North Carolina: Pick the Right Size By Ken Erickson · Updated June 2026 Choosing among the many crepe myrtle varieties comes down to one thing most people overlook — mature size. Drive through any neighborhood in Fuquay-Varina or Apex in late winter and you will see it: rows…
Read More Dwarf and Shrub Crepe Myrtle Varieties for North Carolina: Pick the Right Size
Trees and Shrubs
How to Grow and Care for Dogwood Trees in North Carolina (Our State Flower)
ByKen Erickson July 18, 2026August 20, 2026
How to Grow and Care for Dogwood Trees in North Carolina (Our State Flower) By Ken Erickson · Updated June 2026 Dogwood trees in North Carolina are as tricky to keep healthy as they are beautiful. There is a reason the dogwood is North Carolina’s state flower – come April, they light up the edge…
Read More How to Grow and Care for Dogwood Trees in North Carolina (Our State Flower)
Trees and Shrubs
Winterberry Holly in North Carolina: Native Red Winter Berries (and Why You Need a Male Plant)
ByKen Erickson July 12, 2026August 24, 2026
Winterberry Holly in North Carolina: Native Red Winter Berries (and Why You Need a Male Plant) By Ken Erickson · Updated June 2026 If you want a real show of color in the dead of winter, nothing beats a winterberry holly loaded with brilliant red berries against the snow or a gray January sky. It…
Read More Winterberry Holly in North Carolina: Native Red Winter Berries (and Why You Need a Male Plant)
Trees and Shrubs
Forsythia in North Carolina: How to Grow, Care For, and Prune the First Yellow Shrub of Spring
ByKen Erickson July 12, 2026August 24, 2026
Forsythia in North Carolina: How to Grow, Care For, and Prune the First Yellow Shrub of Spring By Ken Erickson · Updated June 2026 Knowing how to prune forsythia comes down to timing — cut at the wrong moment and you lose next spring’s flowers. When the forsythia lights up, spring is coming – it…
Read More Forsythia in North Carolina: How to Grow, Care For, and Prune the First Yellow Shrub of Spring
Trees and Shrubs
Growing Hydrangeas in North Carolina: Types, Care, Why They Won’t Bloom, and Changing the Color
ByKen Erickson July 12, 2026August 24, 2026
Growing Hydrangeas in North Carolina: Types, Care, Why They Won’t Bloom, and Changing the Color By Ken Erickson · Updated June 2026 Growing hydrangeas in North Carolina is equal parts joy and frustration. Hydrangeas are one of the most-loved and most-frustrating shrubs in the South. When they are happy, nothing beats those big blue or…
Read More Growing Hydrangeas in North Carolina: Types, Care, Why They Won’t Bloom, and Changing the Color
Plants and Flowers
Best Summer-Blooming Perennials and Shrubs for North Carolina (Long-Blooming, Heat-Tough Color)
ByKen Erickson July 12, 2026August 20, 2026
Best Summer-Blooming Perennials and Shrubs for North Carolina (Long-Blooming, Heat-Tough Color) By Ken Erickson · Updated June 2026 The best summer blooming perennials are the ones that keep going when July heat makes everything else quit. Spring color is easy – everything blooms when it is cool and mild. The real test is July and…
Read More Best Summer-Blooming Perennials and Shrubs for North Carolina (Long-Blooming, Heat-Tough Color)
Trees and Shrubs
How to Prune Overgrown Shrubs in North Carolina
ByKen Erickson July 12, 2026August 24, 2026
How to Prune Overgrown Shrubs in North Carolina Without Butchering Them By Ken Erickson · Updated July 2026 How to Prune Overgrown Shrubs Without Killing Them The key to how to prune overgrown shrubs is patience — renewal over a couple of seasons, not one drastic chop. Most overgrown shrubs are saved over two to…
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Trees and Shrubs
How to Trim Evergreen Hedges in North Carolina
ByKen Erickson July 12, 2026August 24, 2026
How to Trim Evergreen Hedges in North Carolina By Ken Erickson · Updated July 2026 How to Trim Evergreen Hedges the Right Way Learning how to trim evergreen hedges the right way keeps them full to the ground instead of bare and woody. Trim evergreen hedges lightly and often, taper the sides so they are…
Read More How to Trim Evergreen Hedges in North Carolina
Trees and Shrubs
When to Prune Spring-Flowering Shrubs in North Carolina
ByKen Erickson July 12, 2026August 24, 2026
When to Prune Spring-Flowering Shrubs in North Carolina By Ken Erickson · Updated July 2026 When to Prune Spring Flowering Shrubs in NC Knowing when to prune spring flowering shrubs is the difference between a wall of blooms and a bare hedge next year. Prune spring-flowering shrubs immediately after they finish blooming — in central…
Read More When to Prune Spring-Flowering Shrubs in North Carolina