Read about the Best Pittosporum Varieties and use the dramatic foliage of this plant as hedges for great privacy and screening!
Native to Asia and Africa, Pittosporum is widely grown throughout Japan and New Zealand. It enjoys mild weather, well-drained soil, and full sun. Many hybrid types are available that can be used as hedges, small trees, and shrubs. Have a look at the Best Pittosporum Varieties!
Check out our article on growing Pittosporum here!
Types of Pittosporum
1. Kohuhu
Botanical Name: Pittosporum tenuifolium
Height / Spread: 15-25 / 10-15 feet
USDA Zones: 9-11
This variety is a good hedge plant with small oval-shaped and pointed mid-green leaves. Grow this fast-growing specimen in full sun to partial shade.
2. Marjorie Channon
Botanical Name: Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Marjorie Channon’
Height / Spread: 8-10 / 8-12 feet
USDA Zones: 8-10
Marjorie Channon displays oval-shaped green leaves with white margins and dark brown-black stems. During spring, the plant produces a cluster of fragrant purple flowers.
3. Silver Magic
Botanical Name: Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Silver Magic’
Height / Spread: 8-12 feet with a similar spread
USDA Zones: 9-11
The plant’s oval-shaped leaves have creamy pink edges with dark-brown black stems. It also grows a cluster of small, fragrant deep purple flowers in spring.
4. Silver Sheen
Botanical Name: Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Silver Sheen’
Height / Spread: 12-16 / 6-8 feet
USDA Zones: 8-11
Just like the name, its leaves give a beautiful contrast in grey-green hues with the black stems. It is ideal for screening on driveways and pathways.
5. Hairy-Branched Pittosporum
Botanical Name: Pittosporum tobira
Height / Spread: 15-25 / 10-15 feet
USDA Zones: 9-10
Endemic to Western Ghats of India, this variety prefers a warm and humid climate. It displays mid-green spiral leaves with a cluster of white flowers.
6. Lemonwood
Botanical Name: Pittosporum eugenioides
Height / Spread: 15-35 / 10-12 feet
USDA Zones: 7-10
The leaves of Eugenides are flecked yellow-green with wavy edges. It produces a cluster of highly fragrant yellow-cream flowers in spring.
7. Stillleaf Cheeswood
Botanical Name: Pittosporum crassifolium
Height / Spread: 12-14 / 8-12 feet
USDA Zones: 8-10
Stillleaf features dark gray-green leathery leaves with hairy undersides. The plant produces red-purple flowers in spring. This self-fertile variety is perfect for sunny and dappled shade hedges.
8. Australian Laurel
Botanical Name: Pittosporum undulatum
Height / Spread: 10-15 feet with same spread
USDA Zones: 9-10
Tobira offers oval-shaped, dark green leaves with rolled edges. In spring, it produces fragrant five-petaled pure white flowers. The plant is also drought-resistant.
9. Tom Thumb
Botanical Name: Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Tom Thumb’
Height / Spread: 3-5 feet tall with a similar spread
USDA Zones: 8-10
Tom Thumb is a dense variety with wavy bordered deep purple leaves on dark young stems. It also features a cluster of fragrant, tiny black-red flowers in late spring and early summer.
Best Pittosporum Dwarf Varieties
10. Golf Ball
Botanical Name: Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Golf Ball’
Height / Spread: 2-5 / 2-3 feet
USDA Zones: 8-11
This compact shrub has beautiful foliage that looks great on black stems. Some varieties also grow flowers with honey-like fragrance. It also looks great in containers!
11. Wheelers Dwarf
Botanical Name: Pittosporum tobira ‘Wheeleri’
Height / Spread: 2-3 / 3-4 feet
USDA Zones: 8b-11
Wheelers Dwarf looks dense with curly branches that form a slight curve. In early spring, fragrant white flowers start to appear on the plant. Some varieties can be grown in containers also.
12. Shorty
Botanical Name: Pittosporum argentea ‘Shorty’
Height / Spread: 2-3 / 1-3 feet
USDA Zones: 8-10
This hardy dwarf variety has silver-grey foliage with a rounded and dense shape. It is an ideal specimen for hedging and topiary.
13. Miss Muffet
Botanical Name: Pittosporum tobira ‘Miss Muffet’
Height/Width: 2-3 / 3-5 feet
USDA Zones: 9-10
This small shrub has a dense, glossy green foliage adorned with fragrant pretty white flowers that appear in spring. It can also be planted in containers of your choice!
