About
Pittosporum tenuifolium, tawhiwhi, is a large, broadly columnar, evergreen shrub with slender, dark shoots bearing rounded, glossy, light-green leaves with wavy margins. Small, honey-scented, deep-purple flowers open in clusters in late spring and early summer. A popular and widely grown hedge and specimen shrub for a sheltered, sunny garden.
About the genus
Pittosporum are evergreen shrubs or trees with simple, leathery leaves and small, often fragrant, five-petalled flowers, followed by rounded, woody, splitting fruits revealing seeds in sticky pulp. Popular ornamental plants for mild gardens.
Plant details
Suggested usesBorders, hedging, specimen planting.
Care notes
CultivationPlant in well-drained soil in sun or part shade.
PruningPrune after flowering or late winter.
PropagationPropagate by division, cuttings, or seed.
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free.
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-resistant.