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Shrubs

Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Golden Ball'

tawhiwhi 'Golden Ball'

A variegated shrub with golden-yellow foliage when young, contrasting with older yellow-green leaves. It has small, purple flowers in May and June which smell of honey. With its natural globular shape, and suitability for topiary, 'Golden Ball' is possible alternative to Buxus balls.

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or East–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 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

Easy to grow in fertile, moist but well-drained, soil. Plat in a sheltered spot as may need protection in colder climes especially 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
Patio and container plants
Low Maintenance
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, leafspot and honey fungus (rarely)

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