Rich colours of pittosporum brighten the garden with colour and shine as they catch the pale winter light
IN THE SHORT, darker days of winter, the ruffled, rich green leaves of pittosporum bring a welcome brightness to the garden, while the variegated forms add a touch of light, and often sparkle with additional colour as their foliage blushes pink in the colder weather. Their reflective leaf surface glitters, especially when wet, and contrasts beautifully with the dark, wiry stems.
Many pittosporum varieties are naturally compact, providing neat hummocks of evergreen foliage in the otherwise sparse winter landscape. They are effective background shrubs, used as a foil to winter flowers, such as viburnum and witch hazels, and the variety of foliage colours provides scope for adventurous gardeners. Admirably suited to both rural and urban garden landscapes, they are deservedly popular both for open garden planting and patio pots.
British gardeners know the genus primarily from the New Zealand native, Pittosporum tenuifolium, which has the Maori name of kōhūhū. But there are more than 200 species in the wild. These are native to what was Gondwana and now comprises Oceania, eastern Asia and parts of Africa. One species is native to Madeira and another to the Canary Islands, but these are not generally cultivated. Pittosporums have five-petalled flowers, which are often fragrant, followed by sticky seeds in round pods. These are referenced in the name of the plant, with pittosporum meaning ‘tarry seeds’. Many species contain resinous compounds that deter browsing animals. These resins were used by the Maori people for scent and some medicinal purposes.
Popular species Species vary from those which are hardy in most of the UK to more tender shrubs. Although there are three readily available species that can be grown in British gardens, P. tenuifolium is by far the most popular of these, due to its quick growth, diversity of foliage and hardiness. Typically, the twigs are black, and the leaves are approximately 1½in (4cm) long and a third as wide; glossy green above and paler below, with a wavy edge. The smallish leaves on upright, dark stems create an airy feel, but clipping can produce a denser shrub if preferred.
The other pittosporum that is frequently offered for sale is P. tobira, a species from Japan and China. A common landscape shrub in Southern Europe, young plants are often imported and sold at low cost. Although ultimately a large sh
