Pittosporum

Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Wrinkled Blue' is a striking and unique evergreen shrub that hails from New Zealand. Its botanical name, Pittosporum tenuifolium, refers to its slender, fine foliage, and 'Wrinkled Blue' aptly describes the distinctive features of this particular cultivar.

This ornamental shrub typically reaches a height of 2 to 4 meters, forming an attractive, compact, and rounded shape. The real charm of 'Wrinkled Blue' lies in its leaves, which are indeed the highlight of the plant. The foliage is characterized by its intriguingly wavy and deeply wrinkled texture, which gives it a distinctive and eye-catching appearance. The leaves are a rich blue-green colour, creating a beautiful contrast against other plants in the garden.

In late spring to early summer, 'Wrinkled Blue' produces small, inconspicuous, dark purple to black flowers that emit a sweet fragrance. While these blooms may not be the primary attraction of the plant, they add a subtle charm and can be mildly fragrant.

One of the remarkable qualities of Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Wrinkled Blue' is its adaptability to various garden conditions. It thrives in well-drained soil and can tolerate both full sun and partial shade, making it a versatile choice for gardeners. Additionally, it's known for its resistance to coastal conditions, making it a suitable option for gardens near the sea.

This cultivar's versatility extends to its use in landscaping. 'Wrinkled Blue' is excellent as a specimen plant, providing a unique focal point in the garden. It can also be used for hedging, as its dense foliage creates an effective screen or boundary. The shrub is relatively low-maintenance, requiring minimal pruning to maintain its shape and remove any dead or damaged growth.

Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Glo Ball' is a delightful and compact evergreen shrub, cherished for its unique and eye-catching ornamental features. Hailing from the Pittosporum genus, this cultivar is known for its striking spherical shape, which sets it apart from other members of the species.

This shrub's botanical name, Pittosporum tenuifolium, gives a nod to its slender, narrow leaves ('tenuifolium' referring to "thin leaves"), which are glossy, small olive green leaves with a creamy - yellow margin. These foliage characteristics lend a touch of elegance to any garden or landscape.

'Glo Ball' is truly distinctive due to its compact, rounded form, which resembles a perfectly manicured green globe. Its dense growth habit makes it an ideal choice for hedges, borders, or as an attractive stand-alone specimen plant. This rounded shape is easily maintained with light pruning to help it retain its appealing spherical appearance.

In spring, 'Glo Ball' surprises with tiny, inconspicuous maroon flowers that release a subtle, sweet fragrance. These blooms, while not showy, attract pollinators and add an extra layer of charm to the shrub.

One of the key advantages of Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Glo Ball' is its adaptability to a range of soil types and its ability to thrive in both full sun and partial shade, making it suitable for various garden settings. Its hardy nature also makes it relatively low-maintenance, requiring minimal attention once established.

Pittosporum 'Golden Ball' is an exceptional evergreen shrub that stands out in the world of landscaping for its unique and vibrant foliage. This cultivar, belonging to the Pittosporaceae family, is renowned for its striking appearance, compact form, and its ability to add a splash of gold to the garden.

'Golden Ball' is a relatively compact shrub, typically growing to a height of 3-4 feet and spreading 3-4 feet as well. Its rounded shape and dense growth habit make it an ideal choice for small gardens, borders, or as an eye-catching accent plant. Its diminutive size also makes it suitable for container gardening, allowing you to enjoy its golden charm even in limited spaces.

What sets Pittosporum 'Golden Ball' apart is its captivating foliage. The leaves are small, oval, and feature a bright, golden-yellow hue that persists throughout the year. This vibrant colouration serves as a striking contrast to the typical green foliage found in most gardens, making 'Golden Ball' an attention-grabbing addition.

In late spring to early summer, 'Golden Ball' produces inconspicuous, dark purple flowers that are subtly fragrant. While the flowers themselves may not be showstoppers, they do attract pollinators like bees and butterflies to the garden.

One of the outstanding qualities of 'Golden Ball' is its adaptability to various growing conditions. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and is relatively low-maintenance once established. This hardy shrub can withstand drought conditions, making it an excellent choice for water-wise landscapes.

In summary, Pittosporum 'Golden Ball' is a dazzling evergreen shrub that commands attention with its radiant, golden foliage. Its compact size, unique colouration, and adaptability make it a valuable asset in garden design, whether used as a striking focal point, a border plant, or a potted specimen. This cultivar adds a touch of luxury and warmth to any garden, elevating its visual appeal and creating a captivating landscape.

Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Silver Ball' is a small evergreen shrub with a unique, rounded growth habit that resembles a perfectly formed 30cm ball. The dense foliage of this cultivar is a striking silvery-grey color that contrasts beautifully with other plants in the garden.

The leaves of 'Silver Ball' are narrow and elongated, giving the shrub a delicate and graceful appearance. In late spring to early summer, small, inconspicuous brown flowers appear on the plant, which are followed by small, ornamental purple berries in autumn.

This variety is ideal for planting as a low hedge, in a container, or as a specimen plant. Its compact, ball-shaped form makes it an excellent choice for small gardens or for adding structure and texture to mixed borders. With its unique appearance and low maintenance requirements, Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Silver Ball' is a great addition to any garden.

The Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Silver Magic' is an elegant, evergreen shrub prized for its striking variegated foliage and compact growth habit. This cultivar is a popular choice in British gardens for hedging, borders, and specimen planting due to its year-round visual appeal and low maintenance requirements.

'Silver Magic' is characterised by its small, wavy-edged leaves, which display a delightful blend of silvery-green centres with creamy-white margins, sometimes tinged with soft pink hues in cooler weather. These delicate leaves are borne on slender, dark purple to black stems, creating an attractive contrast that enhances the plant’s ornamental value. Over time, it forms a dense, bushy habit making it an excellent choice for compact spaces.

During late spring to early summer, 'Silver Magic' produces inconspicuous, honey-scented dark purple flowers, which attract pollinators such as bees. Though small, these blooms contribute to the plant’s overall charm.

This Pittosporum thrives in well-drained soil and prefers a sunny or partially shaded position. It is relatively hardy, tolerating temperatures down to around -5°C, though it benefits from some shelter in exposed or particularly frosty locations. Regular pruning helps maintain its shape and encourages denser foliage growth, especially when used as a hedge.

With its elegant variegation, year-round interest, and versatility in the landscape, Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Silver Magic' is a superb addition to contemporary and traditional gardens alike. It works beautifully as a specimen plant in pots, in mixed shrub borders, or clipped into formal shapes for structured garden designs. Its subtle yet sophisticated colouration ensures it complements a wide range of other plants, providing contrast and texture throughout the seasons.

The Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Purpureum' is an elegant, evergreen shrub prized for its striking foliage and versatile garden use. This cultivar is particularly noted for its deep purple leaves, which add year-round interest and contrast to garden borders, hedges, or containers.

This variety of Pittosporum tenuifolium has a naturally upright and bushy habit. Its slender, wavy-edged leaves emerge green but quickly develop a rich purple hue, deepening in colour as the season progresses. This feature makes it especially appealing in mixed planting schemes, where it provides a striking backdrop to lighter-coloured plants.

The small, bell-shaped flowers of Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Purpureum' appear in late spring to early summer. These dark, almost blackish-purple blooms are relatively inconspicuous against the foliage but emit a pleasant honey-like fragrance, particularly in the evenings, attracting pollinators such as bees and moths.

Thriving in well-drained soil, this shrub prefers a sunny to partially shaded position. It is tolerant of coastal conditions and light frost but benefits from shelter in colder climates. It responds well to pruning, making it ideal for shaping into hedges, screens, or topiary forms.

Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established, Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Purpureum' is an excellent choice for modern and traditional gardens alike. Whether used as a focal point, an informal hedge, or a companion plant in mixed borders, its dramatic foliage and easy-care nature make it a valuable addition to any planting scheme.

The Pittosporum ‘Green Elf’ is a compact, evergreen shrub renowned for its dense, bushy growth and vibrant green foliage. This attractive plant is particularly favoured for its neat, rounded habit and versatility in garden design.

This cultivar is distinguished by its small, leathery, oval-shaped leaves, which display a glossy, deep green hue, offering year-round interest. The foliage remains lush and dense, making it an excellent choice for low hedging, topiary, or as a feature plant in pots and borders. As a naturally compact shrub, it typically reaches a height and spread of 60–90 cm, making it well-suited for smaller gardens or urban spaces where space is limited.

During spring and early summer, Pittosporum ‘Green Elf’ produces small, inconspicuous flowers with a delicate honey-like fragrance. These blooms, although not particularly showy, add a subtle charm and attract pollinators such as bees.

Hardy in UK climates, it thrives best in well-drained soil and prefers a position in full sun to partial shade. It is drought-tolerant once established and can withstand coastal conditions, making it ideal for seaside gardens. Regular pruning helps maintain its shape and encourages denser growth, though it naturally maintains a tidy form.

This low-maintenance shrub is highly adaptable and works well in contemporary, formal, or Mediterranean-style gardens. It can be planted as a border edging, underplanting for taller shrubs, or as part of a mixed planting scheme.

Overall, Pittosporum ‘Green Elf’ is an excellent choice for gardeners seeking a compact, evergreen plant that provides year-round structure and elegance with minimal care. Its resilience, attractive foliage, and versatility make it a valuable addition to UK gardens.