Australian Laurel Pittosporum tobira

Mock orange is an attractive fast growing evergreen shrub in the Pittosporaceae family.  The canopy is dense, compact to broad-spreading, and can reach heights of up to 13 feet tall.

Plant in full sun to heavy shade, wide range of pH, but prefers well-drained soils. It grows well in hardy zones 8-10 and is easily transplanted. This tough, durable shrub that withstands severe pruning, but when pruning, keep in mind that next season's blossoms will appear on old growth. This hardy plant also tolerates drought, heat, and salt spray making it ideal for sandy coastal locations.

The showy fragrant blooms smell like sweet orange blossoms and appear in late spring (April-May) starting out white and turning yellow upon pollination. Fruit is in the fall, its non-edible fruit capsules ripen but are often hidden by the foliage and are non-ornamental. Once open at maturity showy red seeds are revealed. Leaf margins will curl inward if stressed. 

It makes an excellent specimen plant providing some structure and dense evergreen color to the landscape. Mass plant it as a screen, hedge, or barrier. This plant can also be grown in containers on a patio and this is especially helpful in areas it is not winter hardy so it can be brought inside during the cold winter months.  Grown it as a houseplant in well-lit areas of the home.

Quick ID Hints:

• Evergreen, obovate leaves with entire margins
• Dense, compact medium to large shrub with sympodial growth
• Fragrant, 5-petaled flowers in terminal umbels

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious insect or disease problems though aphids, scale, mealybugs, root-knot nematodes, and whiteflies may occur. Leaf spot, bacterial blight, and crown/root rot can also cause problems.  This plant is frequently damaged by deer. Avoid wet or poorly-drained soils where root rot is more likely to develop.