Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Golf Ball’

Naturally low growing and dense, this formal looking foliage plant rarely needs pruning. Useful planted in multiples, and in symmetry for a traditional design. Good in pots.
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Golf Ball'
height 3–4ft
width 3–4ft
tolerates Fog, Pots, Wind
water
needs		 Low – Moderate
water
info		 Pittosporums are drought tolerant enough to live in coastal California without additional water, once established, but they need regular deep water to look full and lush and will partially defoliate if allowed to go completely dry. Additionally, some reports suggest they will also defoliate if overwatered in heavy soil during winter. Luckily they usually bounce back fairly quickly once appropriate water is reestablished. Usually this means a weekly watering for a mature plant, but it could be less if the plant is in some shade, right on the coast, or in heavy soil.
hardy
to		 18F
exposure Part Sun – Full Sun
indoor
outdoor		 Outdoor
origin New Zealand
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 9, 14–17, 19–24

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

Growing Notes

Looks great mixed with other topiaries and in ‘all foliage’ gardens.

Special Interest

Small purple black flowers are amusing, though not particularly noticeable. They smell lightly of honey during the evening, when they attract nocturnal pollinators.

The sap and leaves of pittosporum contain fragrant oils, which were used by the Maori peoples to freshen their homes. They also used the plant to treat various ailments and recent studies have found that pittospourms contain antimicrobial properties.