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Pittosporum heterophyllum

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
pi-TOS-po-rum het-er-o-FIL-um
Description

Chinese Pittosporum is a broadleaf evergreen shrub native to China.  It has compact foliage and reaches about 8-10 feet tall and about 5-6 feet wide with glossy green leaves and fragrant pale yellow flowers.  Prune it after bloom.  Plant in the full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil.  It makes a great screen or hedge if planted on 3' centers.  It has year-round interest.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Marginata'
'Marginata'
Tags:
#evergreen#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#yellow flowers#year-round interest#fast growing#cutting garden#screening#evergreen shrub#hedge
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Marginata'
'Marginata'
Tags:
#evergreen#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#yellow flowers#year-round interest#fast growing#cutting garden#screening#evergreen shrub#hedge
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Pittosporum
    Species:
    heterophyllum
    Family:
    Pittosporaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    China
    Dimensions:
    Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Immature fruits are green turning brown 6 mm across
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Good Cut
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Description:
    Fragrant pale yellow to cream 1-5 flowers per cluster appear in late spring into early summer.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leathery
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Obovate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Simple alternate glossy green leathery leaves ovate to obovate base cuneate (wedge-shaped) and apex obtuse. Margins are entire.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Patio
    Landscape Theme:
    Cutting Garden
    Garden for the Blind
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Small groups
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Heat