About
A dense, bushy, medium-sized evergreen shrub with an upright habit and rounded, variegated grey-green leaves, narrowly edged with cream and sometimes tinged with pink in winter. Clusters of small, deep purple flowers appear in spring and summer, followed by round, woody brown fruits with sticky centres in the autumn. May be grown in a large patio pot, or used for screening due to its dense habit.
About the genus
Pittosporum are evergreen shrubs or trees with simple, leathery leaves and small, often fragrant, 5-petalled flowers, followed by spherical, woody fruits splitting to reveal seeds embedded in sticky pulp
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH3
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageEvergreen
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesCoastal, City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden
Care notes
CultivationIn areas prone to frosts, grow under glass in a peat-free, loam-based potting compost and water moderately when in growth, sparingly in winter. Can be grown outdoors in most fertile soils with protection from cold, drying winds
PruningPruning group 1
PropagationPropagate by semi-hardwood cuttings in summer
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, aphids, cushion scale and pittosporum sucker
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews, leafspot and honey fungus (rarely)