Pittosporum tobira Seeds | Japanese Pittosporum
LATIN NAME: Pittosporum tobira
COMMON NAME: Japanese Pittosporum
Plant Profile
A distinctive member of its genus, Japanese Pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira) is an evergreen shrub in the pittosporum family. Pittosporum rounds its glossy, dark-green foliage into dense, neat shrubs, and small, creamy-white, sweetly scented flowers open among the leaves. Together these qualities explain its long-standing appeal to gardeners.
Science & Biotechnology
Seed science, comparative botany and horticultural selection all touch on Pittosporum tobira, a representative of the pittosporum family with clear practical value. Modern propagation practice has made this species straightforward to raise by ordinary good methods.
Uses & Benefits
In the garden, Japanese Pittosporum earns its place in borders, containers and mixed plantings, and it also rewards growers who raise plants for cutting, drying or kitchen use. Pittosporum is a fine, steady shrub of warm garden and the hedge. It is a fine, steady shrub of open, sunny to lightly shaded, deep, well-drained garden. Give young shrubs light shade and deep soil, and glossy mounds will round out over the years. A plant that has settled in will get along with only routine care.
Pittosporum hedges are fragrant, tough and salt-tolerant; some Asian species appear in folk medicine, but in gardens they are structure plants.
Growing from Seed
Seed is the natural starting point for Japanese Pittosporum, and the process is uncomplicated. Use a fine, free-draining seed compost, scatter the seed evenly, cover it lightly and hold it just moist in good light. Pot the young plants on as they grow, harden them off gradually, and plant them into their final positions when sturdy.
Our Take
Japanese Pittosporum has real presence in the garden without demanding much in return. Sun and good drainage cover most of its demands.
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