Pittosporum crassifolium
| Pittosporum crassifolium | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 16' |
| Width: | 10' |
| Blooms: | Late Spring |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Pittosporum crassifolium (common name: karo)
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 very resistant to maritime exposure[4][5][6][2].
This species is not very cold-hardy in Britain, succeeding outdoors only in the milder areas of the country[4]. Plants grow very well on the Scilly Isles but have not been proved on the mainland[5].Other reports say that it grows well in south-western England[4][7].
Very amenable to pruning, plants can be cut right back into old wood if required[2].
The flowers are sweetly scented, they are borne in terminal clusters of either up to 10 males or up to 5 females[8]. Plants only flower freely in mild areas of the country[8].
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: New Zealand. Naturalized in Britain in the Scilly Isles[9].
Habitat: Forest margins and by streams on North and Kermadec Islands[10].
Usage: A dark blue dye is obtained from the seeds[11].
The plant is a potential source of saponins. Saponins can be used to as a soap and, because of their bitter taste, they also have potential as a bird deterrent by spraying them over the plants. The bitterness can be easily removed by washing (or by the next rainfall!).
Very tolerant of pruning and maritime exposure, this plant can be grown as a protective hedge by the coast in mild maritime areas[4][5][7][6].
The plant has an extensive root system and can be used for binding sandy soils, dunes etc[12].
Wood - very tough. Used for inlay[13][14].
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Monoecious
Known Hazards: This plant contains saponins[12]. 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 straight through without any problem. They are also broken down if the
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 2.7 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Shepherd, F. W.. Hedges and Screens. Royal Horticultural Society, 1974.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Rosewarne Experimental Horticultural Station. Shelter Trees and Hedges. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1984.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Arnold-Forster, William. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Grey-Wilson, Christopher and Victoria Matthews. Gardening on Walls. Collins, 1983.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ Allan, Harry. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer Publications, 1961.
- ↑ Buchanan, Rita. A Weavers Garden.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Brooker, Stanley. Economic Native Plants of New Zealand. Oxford University Press, 1991.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.