Shrubs

Dwarf Japanese Pittosporum

Pittosporum tobira ‘Nanum’

Pittosporum tobira 'Nanum' is an evergreen shrub with a compact, rounded habit and glossy green leaves. It flowers in spring with small creamy blooms and tolerates salt and drought.

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Attributes

Type

Shrub, evergreen

Soil

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Min. temperature

-5 °C

Data: Royal Horticultural Society, Missouri Botanical Garden

Evergreen Salt tolerant Drought tolerant

Care guide

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Low

Height

0.5–1 m

Hardiness

High

Flowering

Spring

Foliage

Evergreen

In Cyprus

Dwarf Japanese pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira ‘Nanum’) is a dense, slow-growing evergreen shrub. It wants full sun or partial shade and free-draining soil; the RHS lists it for chalk, loam and sand, in acid, neutral or alkaline conditions. Like the species P. tobira, it is regarded as salt tolerant and is used in coastal gardens. Water regularly through the first summers; once well established it copes with drought, with supplementary watering according to soil moisture and weather. The RHS rates it H3 (roughly −5 to +1 °C): it suits mild, sheltered positions, while in areas with hard or prolonged frost the microclimate needs assessing and the plant needs shelter from cold, drying winds.

Uses in gardens and projects

With an indicative height and spread of about 0.5–1 m according to the RHS and a dense, rounded habit, it suits low hedges, path edging and massed planting on roundabouts and in green spaces. It also grows in containers in courtyards and on terraces, where watering is managed separately. Its small white flowers, which soon turn yellow, are sweetly scented, usually from late spring into early summer.

Frequently asked questions

How tall does dwarf pittosporum grow?: It is a slow-growing dwarf form; the RHS gives a height and spread of about 0.5–1 m. That is an indicative size rather than a guaranteed maximum, and it can also be kept in shape by pruning.
Is it frost hardy?: The RHS rates it H3, roughly −5 to +1 °C under UK conditions. It suits mild, sheltered spots; in areas with hard or prolonged frost, suitability depends on the local microclimate and it will need protection.
Does it need a lot of water?: Once well established it tolerates drought, but it still needs supplementary watering according to soil moisture and weather. Water regularly during its first summers.
Can it be planted near the sea?: The species P. tobira is regarded as salt tolerant and is used in coastal planting. For very exposed positions that take direct salt spray, suitability should be assessed project by project.