Pittosporum tenuifolium 'French Lace'

RHS Plant Profile

tawhiwhi 'French Lace'

Shrubs

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Upright to rounded evergreen shrub about 3m in height and 1.5m wide, with dark young stems and small, greyish-green, wavy-margined, glossy, leathery leaves tinted purple in autumn. Small, honey-scented, bell-shaped dark purple flowers are produced in clusters, from early summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: 2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H4

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Pittosporaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
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
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in sun or light shade, with shelter from cold drying winds. See pittosporum cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Pruning group 1; prune hedges in spring or midsummer

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, aphids, cushion scale and pittosporum sucker

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews, leafspot and honey fungus (rarely)