About
A slow-growing evergreen shrub to 1.5m tall or more, with purplish stems bearing rounded, wavy-margined leaves opening white, then becoming dark green, speckled and mottled between the veins with white, often tinged pink in winter, and tiny, aromatic deep purple flowers produced rather sparsely from late spring.
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
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectWest-facing, East-facing, South-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageEvergreen
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread1-1.5 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCoastal, Cottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens
FragranceFlower
Care notes
CultivationEasy to grow in fertile, moist but well-drained, soil in full sun May need protection in colder climes especially 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 in dry soils and a leaf spot in exposed locations