This compact, rounded evergreen shrub is covered in honey-scented, creamy-white flowers in late spring and early summer, while its lustrous deep green leaves, which form a neat bushy mound, will add year round structure and interest. In milder areas it's perfect for a sunny patio or an enclosed courtyard garden, while it's a must for a sunny sub-tropical setting or a warm coastal site. In frost-prone areas plant close to a south or west-facing wall, or grow it in a pot and move it to a sheltered spot when the temperatures drop.
How to care for Pittosporum tobira Nanum:
Requires minimal pruning. To thin or reduce growth prune in mid-spring and apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant. Offer protection during the worst of the winter weather.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
0.8m
Eventual spread:
0.8m
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Borderline hardy (will need protection in winter in colder areas)