Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Irene Paterson' (m/v)
tawhiwhi 'Irene Paterson'
A slow-growing evergreen shrub to 1.5m tall or more, with purplish stems bearing rounded, wavy-margined leaves opening white, then becoming dark green, speckled and mottled between the veins with white, often tinged pink in winter, and tiny, fragrant deep purple flowers produced rather sparsely from late spring
Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
1–1.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Purple | Green White | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Purple | Green White | ||
| Autumn | Green White | |||
| Winter | Green White Pink |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or East–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H4Botanical details
- Family
- Pittosporaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Bushy
- Genus
Pittosporum are evergreen shrubs or trees with simple, leathery leaves and small, often fragrant, 5-petalled flowers, followed by spherical, woody fruits splitting to reveal seeds embedded in sticky pulp
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Easy to grow in fertile, moist but well-drained, soil in full sun May need protection in colder climes especially from cold, drying winds
Propagation
Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings in summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Coastal
- Cottage and informal garden
- City and courtyard gardens
- Low Maintenance
- Hedging and screens
- Wall side borders
- Cut flowers
Pruning
Pests
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, aphids, cushion scale and pittosporum sucker
Diseases
May be susceptible to powdery mildews in dry soils and a leaf spot in exposed locations
Get involved
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