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There are many varieties of osmanthus. Among them, Osmanthus fragrans var. thunbergii, Osmanthus fragrans var. latifolius, Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus and Osmanthus fragrans var. semperflorens are several relatively common ones. Each of them has unique characteristics and identification methods. The following is a detailed introduction to these four kinds of osmanthus:

I. Osmanthus fragrans var. latifolius
Flowering period and flower color: It blooms in autumn. The flowering period is mainly from August to November. The flower color is relatively elegant, including pure white, milky white, yellowish white or light yellow, all with "white and green" colors.
Leaf characteristics: The leaves are leathery, elliptical, long elliptical or elliptic-lanceolate. The front side is lighter in color, green or bluish green, with moderate gloss.
Fragrance: The floral fragrance is fresh and elegant, similar to that of Osmanthus fragrans var. thunbergii, but even lighter.

II. Osmanthus fragrans var. thunbergii
Flowering period and flower color: It also blooms in autumn. The flower color is rich and diverse, ranging from light lemon yellow to golden yellow, with different shades.
Leaf characteristics: The leaf edges have relatively messy serrations. The leaf surface is uneven. The color is dark green and rich in luster.
Fragrance: The floral fragrance is strong. It can even be said to be very strong. It is a kind of osmanthus with a more prominent fragrance.

III. Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus
Flowering period and flower color: The flowering period is also in autumn. The flower color is relatively deep, ranging from light orange yellow, orange yellow to orange red or deep orange red. It is the most brightly colored category among osmanthus.
Leaf characteristics: The leaves are thick, large and smooth, elliptical, and the tips are relatively sharp. The front side of the leaves is dark in color, dark green, and has a strong texture.
Fragrance: The floral fragrance is strong. Although not as strong as some varieties of Osmanthus fragrans var. thunbergii, it still belongs to a category with relatively strong fragrance among osmanthus.

IV. Osmanthus fragrans var. semperflorens
Flowering period and flower color: Different from the other three kinds of osmanthus, Osmanthus fragrans var. semperflorens can bloom in all seasons, but mainly in autumn. The flower color is relatively light, ranging from milky yellow to lemon yellow, not as bright as other varieties.
Leaf characteristics: The new leaves are dark red, and the mature leaves turn green or yellowish green. The leaves are opposite, mostly elliptical or long elliptical. The leaf surface is smooth and leathery, and the edges are serrated.
Fragrance: The floral fragrance is not as strong as that of Osmanthus fragrans var. latifolius, Osmanthus fragrans var. thunbergii and Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus, and it is relatively light.

Summary
In terms of flower color, Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus has the deepest flower color, ranging from orange yellow to orange red and even vermilion; Osmanthus fragrans var. thunbergii is second, with flower colors ranging from light yellow to golden yellow; Osmanthus fragrans var. latifolius is more elegant in white and yellow; and the flower color of Osmanthus fragrans var. semperflorens is the lightest, ranging from milky yellow to lemon yellow. In terms of leaf characteristics, the four kinds of osmanthus also have their own unique features, differing in leaf color, shape and texture. In terms of fragrance, Osmanthus fragrans var. thunbergii and Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus are relatively strong, followed by Osmanthus fragrans var. latifolius, and Osmanthus fragrans var. semperflorens is relatively light.