Botanical Name: Pittosporum tenuifolium
Common Name: Kohuhu

 

Use: Outdoors
Indigenous/Exotic : Exotic
Evergreen/Deciduous : Evergreen
Plant Type : Shrub
Flower Colour :
Foliage Colour : Green, variegated
Best Season : Spring, autumn
Light : Sun
Hardiness : Hardy
Attributes :  
Height (m) : 3
Spread (m) : 2
    
Notes: The small-leaved Pittosporum tenuifolium is noted for its attractive dark stems and neat shape. 'Catherine' has dark stems and the compact pyramidal growth of its parent, but its pointed leaves are slightly wavy, with creamy-yellow edges.

 

Other cultivars of P. tenuifolium indude 'Garnetii', which has white and green leaves with narrow maroon edges and red spots, and 'Saundersii', with dark green leaves with creamy-yellow edges. Another species, P. nigricans, has beautiful pale green leaves, which show up particularly well against the dark, almost black stems.

 

Another variety, Pittosporum eugenioides is often called 'lemon wood' in South Africa, because its leaves, when bruised, give off a lemon-like aroma. A favourite with landscapers and floral arrangers alike, this charming shrub has wavy, grey-green leaves with broad, creamy-white margins and distinctively pale mid-ribs. A fairly dense shrub, it makes an excellent background specimen in a mixed border, as its foliage blends well with other variegated leaves and its light col­our helps to brighten up darker foliage. Because of its attractive growth habit, it also makes a good accent or focal point.

 

Pittosporums are suited to most areas, except the very dry regions and those which experience severe frost.

 

These shrubs prefer fertile, well-composted soil and like a sunny position. In the drier regions and in dry spells, they must be kept well watered.