[Umbrian]

Could someone identify this shrub please, Pittosporum ? Bought several years ago with no label and doing really well despite the recent harsh winter.

[oron peri]

Yes it is, Pittosprum tobira, an excellent plant for any purpose.

[Fleur Pavlidis]

Oron, can you sort this one out for me? The first photo is Pittosporum tobira, still in flower, but the second is of a different Pittosporum with points on the leaves which are not so glossy, an looser mode of growth and smaller flowers. It takes a long time to settle in but then grows taller than tobira. Any idea what it is? I bought it thinking it was the Nana (third photo)!

[oron peri]

Fleur
It looks like P. truncatum.

[Fleur Pavlidis]

Many thanks, Oron.
I can recommend Pittosporum truncatum as a good multi-purpose shrub: always fresh green, no die-back at all in six years, sweetly scented flowers in spring, grows in sun and shade, no special watering needs, suitable for pruning, cold hardy.

[pamela]

I heartily agree with Oron.  Pittosporum tobira is a wonderful plant and particularly here in our difficult CB terrain.  It survives dry ground, can be replanted easily, is always green and has the most delicious scent and is flowering now!  I don't know what you would think about P.tenuifolium and P.eugenoides which grow really well here.as well....They are both so beautiful with their black stems and silvery leaves , but then I am a little biased!

[GRJoe]

Hi! Now at last I can tell that this plant, which is common in Greece as hedge, is Pittosporum truncatum.
re. P. tobira: it is so commonplace in Athens where it's called "Angeliki" and it took me some time before I started to appreciate its qualities. The way its growth is so balanced, so much so that old specimen present round shapes like some fluffy clouds. Also the leaves foil when conditions are too dry, so it could be a truthful indicator of soil dryness in a garden.
Pittosporum tenuifolium... never saw this one   it looks great too.

[GRJoe]

A photo with P. truncatum growing up to 3m, dominating the landscape as hedge and screen. Entrance of a restaurant that shut down. As with so many businesses in Athens that shut down, it is unlikely that the plants that are left behind will survive the summer.

[Alisdair]

I bet that Pittosporum will survive, Joe: they seem to be pretty indestructible!
Let us know in the autumn....

[David Bracey]

I am currently writing a report on the Cold damage caused this winter in the Languedoc and Provence regions.
 P. undulatum was severely damaged but will survive; both P.tenuifolia and P tobira variegata were killed. Details will appear when the report is ready.

[jmw]

Two much planted Kiwis - P. eugenioides  is considered rather frost tender when young and probably a USDA Zone 9 in most cases. P tenuifolium is hardier but may not survive -12C, depending on provenance and site. Many cultivars are less hardy.