Christchurch Native Plant Nursery
Pittosporum ralphii – Tough NZ Native Shrub for Screening and Shelter
Pittosporum ralphii is a hardy, evergreen native shrub or small tree ideal for hedging, screening, and native planting projects across New Zealand. Known for its narrow, grey-green leaves and upright form, it typically grows to 4–6 metres tall and 3–4 metres wide. The foliage has a subtle silver tone, which softens the appearance of dense planting and adds contrast to green-dominated gardens. In spring, small dark red to purple flowers appear, offering seasonal interest and attracting native insects.
Pittosporum crassifolium – Coastal NZ Native Shrub (Karo)
Pittosporum crassifolium, commonly known as karo, is a tough, evergreen shrub native to New Zealand’s coastal regions. With its dense, grey-green foliage and rounded form, karo is ideal for hedging, screening, and shelter planting in exposed or coastal areas. It typically grows to 4–5 metres tall and wide and is highly regarded for its tolerance of salt spray, wind, and dry conditions. In spring, clusters of small, dark red to purple flowers appear, followed by sticky seed capsules.
