【Objective】Sweet osmanthus (Osmanthus fragrans) is an important economic garden evergreen tree species in China. It integrates beautification and aromatization and has ecological, social and economic effects. The selection and breeding of new varieties in sweet osmanthus not only enrich germplasm resources, but also promote the development of the sweet osmanthus industry.【Method】Using seedlings as breeding materials, a distinctiveness, uniformity and stability (DUS) test was performed on the clone progenies of the single plant found. 【Result】The leaf color of the new cultivar ‘Nanlin Caiyu’ was bred, which can change from purple-red to pink at the initial stage, and then gradually turn orange pink or orange, with purple-black petioles, and purple-red young branches.【Conclusion】A DUS test showed that this cultivar’s traits were different from those of known color-leaf cultivars, with a leaf color ornamental period lasting for half a year, a high ornamental value, and broad application prospects.