Description
Pittosporum tenuifolium—also known as kōhūhū or Black Matipo—is a versatile evergreen native to New Zealand, and a real gem for structured or layered garden designs 🌿.
🌳 Botanical Profile
- Height: Up to 10m, but often kept smaller with pruning
- Foliage: Slender, glossy leaves—silvery green with darker upper surfaces
- Stems: Dark, almost black, offering dramatic contrast
- Flowers: Tiny, dark reddish-purple blooms, scented only at night
- Fruit: Sticky black seeds inside small capsules—great for wildlife dispersal
🌿 Cultivar Appeal
Popular cultivars include:
- ‘Silver Sheen’ – shimmering foliage, ideal for hedging
- ‘Nigricans’ – black stems, compact form
- ‘Marjorie Channon’ – creamy variegation, elegant texture
- ‘Elfin’ – dwarf form, perfect for containers or tight spaces
🌱 Growing Conditions
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Water: Moderate; drought-tolerant once established
- Soil: Well-drained, tolerates poor soils
- Frost: Hardy to light frost
🌼 Landscape Uses
- Hedging and screening
- Accent or specimen planting
- Coastal gardens (salt-tolerant)
- Night gardens—thanks to its nocturnal fragrance
