Pittosporum colensoi

Synonyms

Pittosporum tenuifolium subsp. colensoi

Shrubs Trees

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An evergreen shrub or small tree with oval, leathery dark green glossy foliage with a yellow midrib. Fragrant, dark red to purple star-shaped flowers appear in the leaf axils in the spring to early summer. If left unpruned, it may reach a height of around 3-6m but generally in the UK it can be pruned as hedging to keep it at a more manageable size of 1-2m

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: 2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay 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
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): H3

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, Clump forming
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: Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

In areas prone to frosts, grow under glass in a peat-free, loam-based potting compost and water moderately when in growth, sparingly in winter. Can be grown outdoors in most fertile soils with protection from cold, drying winds

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Coastal
Flower borders and beds
Hedging and screens
Wall side borders

Pruning

pruning group 1

Pests

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

Diseases

May be susceptible to Powdery mildews and a leaf spot