Pittosporum

Pittosporum are wonderful,  evergreen shrubs and small trees, widely grown in Europe.

These plants grow best in the southern parts of the UK and those in the northern parts are better nearer the coastline than in the middle of Britain where the winter extremes are too much.  This especially applies to any of the variegated and purple varieties.  Pittrosporum tenuifolium which is plain green seems to be the toughest and has small purple flowers in the spring.

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Pittosporum tenuifolium is often used as hedging in the south , but unless it has a particularly sheltered position that is naturally protected during the winter then it would not be a good choice since the risk of complete survival becomes slim and  the hedge may well become disjointed and no longer be fit for purpose.

If left  Pittosporum tenuifolium in favourable conditions can reach over 20ft with age.

One of my favourites for a sunny spot is the variety Pittosporum Tom Thumb, which is ever-purple.  The foliage starts green in the spring and then turns purple.  During the winter the foliage darkens with the cold.  The variety Tom Thumb is really only a small shrub extending to three foot  in height and spread in a ten year period.  The one I have photographed here is five years old and is in very gravelly ground.

If you have wet ground, then it may well be worth creating a mound or a Bund as it is known  in the trade which basically the act of raising the ground so that the wetter soil is much further away and therefore the plant will take up the extra moisture as the plant matures.
Certainly at garden centre level it was one that got watered sparingly compared to many shrubs!

If you want to grow one in a container, then root frost can be a factor to think about.  Protect the pot in the winter.

Pittosporum tenuifolium Purpureum is a fabulous variety that will reach 10 ft in as many years.

Pittosporum tenuifolium Silver Queen is said to be the toughest of the variegated varieties and will reach 8 ft or so in a ten year period.

There are houseplant varieties for the UK such as Pittosporum tobira which is much more of a succulent and again grows well in southern Europe.  There are variegated varieties such as Pittosporum tobira Variegata and extra compact varieties such as Pittosporum tobira  Nana which is very neat.

I think there is a lovely selection to consider for the home and garden.  Good Luck!

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