Pittosporum bicolor
| Pittosporum bicolor | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 16' |
| Blooms: | Late Fall-Mid Spring |
| Native to: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Pittosporum bicolor
Propagation: Seed - sow when ripe in the autumn or in late winter in a warm greenhouse[1][2]. The seed usually germinates freely. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, move the plants to a cold frame as soon as they are established and plant out late in the following spring[1]. Consider giving them some protection from the cold during their first winter outdoors.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 7cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Poor to fair percentage[1].
Basal ripewood cuttings late autumn in a cold frame[2].
Cultivation: Succeeds in any well-drained soil[3][2], including dry soils, preferably in a sunny position[3] but also succeeding in light shade[2].
Plants are not very hardy in Britain, they require winter protection at Kew Gardens but do well outdoors in the southern and western maritime counties where some specimens have reached 10 metres tall[4].
The small flowers are highly fragrant[3]. They open over a long season, though they are mainly open in the spring[5].
Very amenable to pruning, plants can be cut right back into old wood if required[2].
The species in this genus are very likely to hybridize with other members of the genus[2]. When growing a species from seed it is important to ensure that the seed either comes from a known wild source, or from isolated specimens in cultivation.
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[2].
Range: Australia - New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria.
Usage: Makes a good wind-resistant hedge in the warmest gardens in Britain[3].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: Although no mention has been found for this species, some members of this genus contain saponins. Saponins are found in many foods, such as some beans, and although they are fairly toxic to people they are poorly absorbed by the body and most pass straigh
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Grey-Wilson, Christopher and Victoria Matthews. Gardening on Walls. Collins, 1983.