This is a Japanese species, and in our minds, the cultivar Pittosporum tobira ‘Miss Muffet’ one of the best. The mature foliage is a deep glossy green, new foliage a paler green and it is attractive year round.
Flowers are white and appear in clusters, as they age they turn to a yellow colour and often you will see both white and yellow flowers in the one cluster.
This makes a good hedging plant and the species itself will reach around 3 – 4 metres in height. The smaller growing cultivar ‘Miss Muffet’ reaches around 1.5 metres in height. This is regarded as a dwarf variety and is reasonably slow growing.
It is an easy to prune plant, its drought tolerant once established and will grow in full sun to part shade. It is also a frost tolerant plant, evergreen and is spring flowering.
Care
- Dig the soil over well before planting adding some well rotted compost.
- Choose a postion in full sun to part shade and plant in a well drained humus rich soil.
- Water in with a liquid seaweed fertiliser
- Mulch around the plant to maintain a cool root run
- Prune after flowering to maintain a more compact and bushy growth habit.
The best time to fertilise Pittosporum tobira is from spring through to autumn. How often you fertilise will depend on which fertiliser you use.
Landscaping Uses
Landscaping uses include hedges, background plants in the garden border as well as being a good foliage plant. The smaller growing ‘Miss Muffet’ is suited to growing in containers and is actually best in part shade, so it can make a great courtyard plant.
Pittosporum tobira ‘Miss Muffet’ is available for sale from the following participating nurseries
82 David Hill Rd Monbulk (Opposite Vika Ave)
Japanese Maple and Magnolia specialists, Wholesale and Retail. Large range of other deciduous and evergreen ornamental trees and shrubs.
www.yaminarareplants.com.au