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Shrubs

Pittosporum 'Bicton Silver' (m/v)

pittosporum 'Bicton Silver'

A large, strong-growing, bushy, evergreen shrub, with dark brown to black stems, and narrow, pointed, light green leaves with a silvery-white margin. Small, dark red-brown, male flowers appear in late spring or early summer

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

1.5–2.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or 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)

Botanical details

Family: Pittosporaceae
Native to the UK: 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 full sun. Will grow in partial shade, but the leaves will be most colourful and wood will ripen better in an open, sunny position. Grow in the open in milder areas and in coastal gardens with shelter from the worst cold, drying winds. In colder gardens grow in a sheltered position such as a south- or west-facing wall, and protect roots in winter with a deep dry mulch

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe basal cuttings in summer, by basal hardwood cuttings in late autumn, or by layering or air layering in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
City and courtyard gardens
Mediterranean climate plants
Patio and container plants
Low Maintenance
Hedging and screens
Wall side borders
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 1; if grown as a hedge, trim in spring and 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)

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