Pittosporum tenuifolium Bannow Bay ('Breebay')
tawhiwhi [Bannow Bay]
Compact evergreen shrub about 1m in height and 60cm wide, with dark young stems and small, grey-green, wavy-margined, glossy leaves with a creamy-white edge, aging to mottled green tinted pink then crimson in winter. Small, honey-scented, bell-shaped dark purple flowers are produced in clusters, from early summer
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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Grey Silver Green Cream | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Purple | Green Cream White | ||
| Autumn | Green Pink | |||
| Winter | Pink Red |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H4Botanical details
- Family
- Pittosporaceae
- Native to the UK
- 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
Trade
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in sun or light shade, with shelter from cold drying winds. Ideal for container cultivation and topiary shapes. See pittosporum cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Coastal
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
- Low Maintenance
- Flower borders and beds
- Hedging and screens
Pruning
Pruning group 1; prune hedges in spring or midsummer
Pests
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, aphids, cushion scale and pittosporum sucker
Diseases
May be susceptible to powdery mildews, leafspot and honey fungus (rarely)
Get involved
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