Species Japanese pittosporum Guide
white flowers and buds with green-orange leaves on dark-brown branches

Japanese pittosporum

Pittosporum tobira

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Cutting,Layering Propagation,Grafting Propagation,Air Layering Propagation,Division,Seed Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

9 - 10

Flowers:

White Flowers

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Thorny:

Yes

Tropical:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Japanese pittosporum does best when it is watered deeply but infrequently. Water your pittosporum every 7 days to 10 days on warm conditions, every 10 to 14 days on colder seasons. Make sure the soil is moist at least 2-4 inches down by checking it with your finger. Make sure you water the soil and not the foliage as wet foliage can cause disease.

sunlight

Japanese pittosporum prefers sunny locations and can tolerate full sun to partial shade. Generally, it grows best when it receives 6-8 hours of direct sunlight a day. This can be divided into several shorter durations throughout the day or a longer length of time in the morning or late afternoon. However, if the sun is too intense midday, some shade should be provided. The plant should also be protected from negative effects due to too much wind.

pruning

To ensure the health of your Japanese pittosporum, it should be pruned annually, usually in late winter or early spring. Generally, pruning should involve removing about 1-third of the oldest shoots. Avoid pruning too much at once, as this may cause stress to the plant. Be sure to use sharp, sterile and properly sanitized pruning tools when performing this pruning.