Pittosporum ralphii

Pittosporum ralphii Details

Pittosporum ralphii is a hardy, NZ native tree grown for its foliage and flowers. It features thick and leathery, light green leaves that have undersides densely clad with white hair. The foliage is complemented with small, dark red flowers in spring which result in seed capsules that are great of attracting birds. This evergreen typically grows to 6 m tall and 5 m wide though can be contained with trimming. Best performance with this tree is achieved when it is planted in full sun or partial shade on a well-drained site. It is tolerant of most soil types, except extreme wet, and will grow in shaded conditions though will tend to become more open and somewhat spindly. It is also tolerant of wind, coastal conditions, periods of dry, and frost once established. Pittosporum ralphii is commonly included in coastal gardens, used as a backdrop for smaller plants, included in revegetation programs, or planted for shelter or screening.