Pittosporum tenuifolium (New Zealand Pittosporum, Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu)
Botanical Information
| Family | Pittosporaceae |
| Genus | Pittosporum |
| Species | tenuifolium |
| Category | Woody |
| Type | Shrub (evergreen) |
| Origin | Native to New Zealand. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 9 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cool season protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H3 - H4 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -7 - (-1) |
| Temperature (°F) | 20 - 30 |
| Height | 4 - 10 m |
| Spread | 2.5 - 4 m |
| Flowering Period | May, June |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | Pittosporum tenuifolium is an evergreen shrub with glossy, rounded leaves and small, deep-purple flowers arranged in clusters. |
| Shape | Broadly columnar. |
| Cultivation | Grow in a sheltered location, in full sun to part shade, in moist, well-drained, fertile soil. Best foliage in full sun. |
| Pests | Possible problems include: aphids, pittosporum sucker, cushion scale and glasshouse red spider mite. |
| Leaf Description | Simple, rounded, leathery, glossy light green with margins undulate (wavy). |
| Flower Description | Small, 5-petalled, darkly purple, smell of honey, arranged in clusters. Bloom time is late spring to early summer. |
| Fruit Description | Spherical, woody, splitting to expose seeds covered in a sticky resin. |
Photographs
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Silver Queen', RHS Garden Rosemoor, North Devon, England.
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Tom Thumb', RHS Garden Rosemoor, North Devon, England.