Pittosporum tenuifolium
Common name:
Tawhiwhi
Kohuhu
Pronunciation:
pi-TOS-po-rum ten-ew-i-FO-lee-um
Family:
Rhamnaceae
Genus:
Type:
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon:
No
- Broadleaf evergreen shrub or tree to over 30 ft (~10 m) high, densely branched, slender stems which on young shoots are gray to nearly black. Leaves alternate, simple, obovate to oblong or elliptic, 3-10 cm long, margins flat, revolute or undulated, glabrous (lacking hairs), dull glazed. Flowers, usually in 2s, borne in leaf axils, purple-brown, honey-like fragrance, Fruit green and finally black,10-12 mm wide, sphere-like, wrinkled at maturity, thin walls.
- Sun to part shade. Best in moist but well-drained fertile soil. Tolerates maritime exposure
-
Hardy to USDA Zone 8 Native to New Zealand, and apparently has naturalized in parts of Australia and California. Over 25 cultivars are offered in the nursery trade. Here are two:
- 'Marjorie Channon' - variegated shrub, compact, slow growing, leaves light green with rich cream colored margins
- 'Silver Sheen' - shrub, densely branched, dark, very thin stems, small silvery-green leaves, flowers red, fragrant
- tenuifolium: with thin leaves, tenui, thin; folium, leaves.
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