Pittosporum tobira (Cheesewood, Pittosporum)


Botanical Information

FamilyPittosporaceae
GenusPittosporum
Speciestobira
CategoryTropicals
TypeShrub (evergreen)
OriginAustralia and Eastern Asia.

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone8b - 10
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness ZoneRequires cold season protection under glass.
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH2 - H4
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-10 - 5
Temperature (°F)14 - 41
Height2 - 30 m
GrowthMedium
Flowering PeriodApril, May, June

Description and Growing Information

LandscapeWidely used as an ornamental plant and sometimes grown indoors as bonsai.
PestsCottony cushion scale and sac fungus.
Notable SpecimensCentennial Conservatory, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Leaf DescriptionThe leaves are spirally arranged or whorled, simple, with an entire or waved margin.
Flower DescriptionThe often sweetly scented flowers are produced singly or in umbels or corymbs, each flower with five sepals and five petals.
Fruit DescriptionThe fruit is a woody seed capsule, which bursts on ripening to release the numerous seeds. The seeds are coated with a sticky resinous substance.
Colour DescriptionLeaves are green. Flowers are white.
Texture DescriptionLeaves are glossy. Bark is smooth.

Photographs