What family is Pittosporum in?
Pittosporum (/pɪˈtɒspərəm/ or /ˌpɪtəˈspɔːrəm, -toʊ-/) is a genus of about 250 species of flowering plants in the family Pittosporaceae. Plants in the genus Pittosporum are shrubs or trees with leaves arranged alternately along the stems. Growth. Pittosporum tenuifolium is an evergreen tree that reaches heights of up to 10 metres (30 feet) and around 5 metres wide (15 feet).In milder areas, Pittosporum tenuifolium is easy to grow and, if allowed, can develop into a small tree up to 10m (30ft) high and up to 5m (15ft) wide. However, Pittosporum tenuifolium also responds well to pruning to restrict its growth to a more compact size.Pittosporum undulatum (Victorian Box) – A large shrub or medium to large tree that can reach to 30-50 feet tall with a pyramidal shape, but is most often seen maintained as a much lower screen or hedge plant.Pittosporum tenuifolium (Kohuhu) – A fast growing dense evergreen upright shrub or small tree that grows to 20 to 30 feet tall.
What are the varieties of Pittosporum tenuifolium?
Pittosporum tenuifolium has many cultivars, often with variegated foliage such as Silver Queen and Garnetii (silver variegated), Variegatum (small leaves and creamy variegated), Irene Patterson (more white than green in its variegation), Abbotsbury Gold (green, with gold hints, especially in winter), and Tandara Gold ( . Pittosporum are prized for their glossy, evergreen leaves and striking dark stems. Leaves may be various shades of green, yellow, purple or silvery-grey, or variegated, depending on the cultivar. The flowers are usually small, brown and lightly scented, although some have showy white flowers with a strong fragrance.Columnar in shape, Pittosporum Tenuifolium boasts shining green leaves with wavy margins and small, dark purple clusters of honey-scented flowers in late spring. These understated yet attractive flowers attract many pollinators. Following its flowers rounded fruits appear which are appreciated by birds.
What are the disadvantages of Pittosporum?
Common Causes of Decline While pittosporum are resilient, they are vulnerable to several key stress factors: Overwatering: Roots suffocate in heavy or waterlogged soils, leading to rot and sudden dieback. Drought stress: Extended dry conditions without deep watering cause hedges to shed leaves rapidly. The thinning canopy is particularly problematic because this species is often used as a border planting or privacy screen. Many causes of ‘Pittosporum decline’ have been suggested including drought, root disease caused by Phytophthora or Armillaria pathogens, and/or poor cultural care.
What is Pittosporum used for?
Traditionally Pittosporum angustifolium is known as a spiritual and medicine plant. The leaves can be boiled to make a tea to heal a cold, cramps, sprains and eczema. It was also used to encourage milk flow after childbirth, the warm leaves applied to the chest. Recently, Madikizela and McGaw [6] summarized information on traditional medicinal applications of the genus Pittosporum for treatment of a wide range of infections such as inflammatory, spasmodic, malarial and microbial infections (e.