Variegated pittosporum

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; light afternoon shade helps in very hot inland gardens.

Water

Water regularly while establishing, then deeply during prolonged dry spells. Established plants tolerate some drought but not persistently wet roots.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, loamy or chalky soil; tolerates a broad pH range and coastal conditions.

Height

6-10 ft (1.8-3 m)

Spread

6-10 ft (1.8-3 m)

Flowers

Spring to early summer; small, fragrant creamy-white flowers age to yellow.

Foliage

Evergreen. Glossy, leathery, spoon-shaped green leaves with irregular creamy-white margins, clustered towards the shoot tips.

Growth

Slow to moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen
• Fragrant

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   2.6 ft (0.79 m)

3. After 2 years

   4 ft (1.1 m)

4. After 3 years

   5 ft (1.4 m)

5. After 5 years

   6 ft (2 m)

About 7 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Mildly toxic: may upset a stomach

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant in a sheltered position with freely draining soil, especially near the colder end of its range.
• Water deeply through the first growing season, allowing the surface soil to dry slightly between waterings.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or the soil is poor; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Grow container plants in a free-draining potting mix and protect their roots from freezing.

Pruning. Prune just after flowering, shortening long shoots or lightly clipping a hedge; frequent clipping reduces flowers. Remove wholly green reverted shoots at their point of origin, and wait until spring growth begins before cutting out frost-damaged wood.

Spring

Plant after severe frost risk has passed; water thoroughly and mulch.

Spring

Check for winter damage and remove dead wood once new growth shows which stems are alive.

Late spring

After flowering, trim to shape and remove any wholly green reverted shoots.

Summer

Water young plants and containers during dry weather; inspect shoot tips and leaf undersides for pests.

Late summer

Take semi-ripe cuttings from healthy, variegated shoots.

Winter

Protect plants from severe frost and cold wind; move containers into a bright, frost-free shelter where necessary.

• Use as an informal evergreen hedge or screen in mild coastal gardens.
• Clip into rounded mounds to give structure beside paths and entrances.
• Place behind dark-leaved shrubs so the cream-edged foliage provides contrast.
• Grow in a large container on a sheltered terrace, with room for its eventual width.

Garden styles it suits: Coastal, Mediterranean, Formal, Modern courtyard, Low-maintenance and Winter interest.

Plant it with: Lavender, Rosemary, African lily, Rock rose, New Zealand flax and Westringia.

Wildlife: The fragrant flowers attract bees and other pollinating insects. Dense evergreen growth can provide shelter for small birds.

• Root rot in waterlogged soil: improve drainage or replant in a raised position; do not keep the root zone constantly wet.
• Scale insects and associated sooty mould: inspect stems and leaf undersides, remove small infestations by hand, and use a labelled horticultural oil if needed.
• Cold damage causing browned leaves and dead shoot tips: provide shelter and frost protection, then prune damaged growth after new growth starts.
• Green reversion: remove entirely green shoots back to their origin before they outgrow the variegated branches.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs or horses. Human poisoning information is limited; the fruits and sticky seeds are not edible, and swallowing plant material may cause stomach upset.

• Variegated kohuhu (Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Variegatum')

  Has smaller, thinner, often wavy-edged leaves on slender dark stems; its flowers are small and dark purple rather than creamy white.

• Variegated euonymus (Euonymus japonicus)

  Its leaves occur in opposite pairs and usually have finely toothed edges; pittosporum leaves have smooth edges and cluster near shoot tips.

• Variegated daphne (Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata')

  Usually has a narrower yellow leaf margin and pink-budded flower clusters in late winter or early spring, rather than the later creamy-white flowers of pittosporum.

Pittosporum comes from Greek words meaning pitch and seed, referring to the sticky seed coating, while 'Variegata' describes the cream-marked foliage.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer and root them in a free-draining medium with gentle humidity. Choose variegated shoots; seedlings will not reliably retain the cultivar's markings.

Accepted botanical name

Pittosporum tobira

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states and Pacific Basin.

Native range

Japan, Korea, Nansei-shoto and Taiwan.

Measured

Soil pH 5.5 to 7. Average height 610 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.