China Tea Network Information: Osmanthus is native to the eastern Himalayas in southwestern China, and is also distributed in India, Nepal, and Cambodia. Wild osmanthus grows in southwestern China, Sichuan, southern Shaanxi, Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui, and other areas. It is now widely cultivated in the Huai River Basin and regions to the south. Its suitable growing area extends north to the lower reaches of the Yellow River and south to Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan.

It prefers a warm and humid climate, tolerates high temperatures but is not very cold-resistant, making it a subtropical tree species. The main areas for concentrated distribution and cultivation of osmanthus in China are primarily the vast tropical and northern subtropical regions from north of Lingnan to south of the Qinling Mountains and Huai River, roughly corresponding to 24°–33°N latitude. This region has favorable water and heat conditions, suitable precipitation, mostly yellow-brown or cinnamon soil, and vegetation primarily consisting of subtropical broadleaf forest types.

Osmanthus is not very strict about soil requirements and can generally grow in most soils except alkaline soil, low-lying land, or soil that is too heavy and poorly drained. However, it is more suited to deep, loose, fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic sandy loam.