Pittosporum Tenuifolium Purpureum

2-3 Litre Pot

• Position: Full sun, partial shade
• Soil: Fertile, well drained
• Growth rate: Average
• Flowering period: May – June
• Hardiness: H4
• Eventual height: 3m
• Eventual spread: 1.5m

Pittosporum Purpureum or as it is commonly called the ‘Kohuhu’ shrub, makes a bushy, evergreen, upright shrub, which has smooth, shiny, wavy edged leaves and are pale green when young, changing to bronze-purple then purple green as they age. Small, honey scented, bell shaped red to black flowers are produced late spring-early summer, highly prized by the garden wild-life, in particular the honey bee, these are followed during Autumn by dark purple seed capsules or berries perfect food for the wild-life winter larder. These shrubs add all year round colour and equally suited as specimen, border or hedging plants. Suitable also for coastal areas.

Looking After Your Pittosporum Purpureum

Pittosporum are generally pest and disease free, although may occasionally be affected by leaf spot or powdery mildew. Easy to care for and suitable to grow in many if not all locations, preferring a sunny position which also encourages the production of its flowers, although frost hardy the Pittosporum will need some protection from the coldest of the winds in Winter. Very little pruning is required although any shaping or removal of dead/damaged branches should ideally be done after flowering. The use of a good general purpose fertiliser is also recommended and best done in early Spring.