Pittosporaceae
Pittosporum tobira
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Shrub |
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Japanese pittosporum on:
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| Other Names for this Plant |
Japanese mockorange, tobira, Japanese Cheesewood, Japanese Laurel
Southeastern Asia, native to China and Japan. In the US, Pittosporum tobira is a popular landscape item in Florida, along the Gulf Coast and throughout the Pacific Northwest.
This beautiful broadleafed evergreen shrub or small tree can reach up to 15 ft (4.6 m) in height and approximately the same in width. In general the Japanese pittosporum grows taller in the shade while those grown in full sun are more compact. In both situations the plant assumes an upright round-headed form with branches radiating out from around the stems. There is a dwarf variety that grows to only about 2 ft (0.6 m) in height called 'Wheeler's Dwarf'. This densely branched and compact shrub forms neat bushel basket size mounds that find use in groundcover plantings, especially in commercial landscapes
The leathery leaves are glossy on the top with undersides that are lighter and have a dull surface. These very ornamental leaves reach a length of from 1-5 in (2.5-12.7 cm) and up to 1 in (2.5 cm) wide with edges that recurve (curl down and inward). The leaves are arranged in a whorl around the stem.
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What's This?
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Api Order (Carrot) |
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Main, Real, Two First-Leaves (Dicots) |
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Real, Two First-Leaves (Dicots) |
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Half Capsule Seed Division |
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Magnolia Division |
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Seed Plants |
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Multiple Spore Sub-Kingdom |
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Multicellular Land Plants |
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Cells with a Nucleus |
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This genus, Pittosporum, contains over 200 species of trees and shrubs native to the tropical regions of the world and most in the southern hemisphere. It was classified by Sir Joseph Banks, 1743-1820, who was perhaps the most famous of all the early plant explorers and among the founders of the Horticultural Society of London. He named it from the Greek for pitch and seed referring to the sticky seed coat. Carl Thunberg of the Dutch East India Company identified but incorrectly classified this species of Japan as Euonymus tobira, his species designation from the native Japanese name. It was accurately classified by William Aiton, 1731-1793 and since then about a dozen cultivars have been produced.
Cultivation: This plant is very adaptable and will grow in most soils except for those that are constantly wet. Moderate moisture is required for fastest growth and best looks. Established plants are able to survive long periods of drought but will look the worse for wear - will recover when adequate moisture is obtained. It requires sun to light shade. Hardy in Zones 8 - 10
Propagation: Seeds, semi-hardwood cuttings at the end of spring, or softwood cuttings in summer
Aroma: The flowers are not very noticeable, but they have a delightful orange-blossom fragrance. The flowers are very fragrant; they can pervade the air for a considerable distance
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Warning and Other Notes: This plant contains Saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish
Japanese pittosporum
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Japanese pittosporum
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Japanese pittosporum
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| Comment:
Japanese pittosporum, Pittosporum tobira |
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