Pittosporum tenuifolium Readybag

Pittosporum tenuifolium

Pittosporum tenuifolium - Instant Hedging is a New Zealand Native plant and grows on both North and South Islands up to almost 3000 feet above sea level. It is frost hardy in most locations and makes a great hedging plant for coastal and urban areas. It is also very tolerant of shade and dry soils. It has small bright green leaves that have a slightly wavy edge to them held on a black stems giving a good contrast.  When they flower the slightly inconspicuous chocolate-purple coloured flowers have a slight honey scent to them which will be strongest in the evening. If kept regularly trimmed the amount of flower will be a lot less than if it is left to grow naturally. This makes a really eye catching ready hedge and provides ample privacy when used as a natural garden screening solution.

In Sheltered situations, this can make a tall hedge up to nearly 3 metres or taller but in most cases it will make an excellent hedge to about 2 metres tall.  It prefers a light loamy soil but will grow in nearly any type apart from water logged and very heavy clay soils.

Pittosporum tenuifolium instant hedging is popular with florists due to the colour and texture of the leaves and the length of time the stems will survive in water. The Royal Horticultural Society gave this plant an Award of Merit in 1931 and an Award of Garden Merit in 1984.