Pittosporum tenuifolium Golf Ball - Kohuhu

Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Golf Ball' is a recent variety of Pittosporum with small leaves, which strongly resembles boxwood in appearance. Its small size and particularly compact and rounded habit make it perfectly suited for ornamenting terraces and small gardens. This evergreen shrub has tough and glossy olive-green foliage, which is attractive all year round. During summer nights, its small dark red flowers emit a sweet honey scent. This plant is hardy down to -10°C (14 °F) and tolerates pruning well. It thrives in sunny locations with well-drained soil, even if it's dry in summer. In mild climates, it can be used in rock gardens or in a dry garden, or it can be grown in a large pot and stored in a cold climate.

This shrub belongs to the Pittosporum family and is native to dry regions east of the Alps in New Zealand. It has a fairly rapid growth rate and forms a dense and stout bush measuring 50 to 80cm (19.7 - 31.5in) in all directions, sometimes up to 1m (3 in 4ft). Its highly branched stems bear evergreen leaves that are olive-green, alternate, entire, ovate, thick, very glossy, and leathery, with smooth edges. The leaves are small, not exceeding 3 to 3.5cm (1.2 - 1.4in) in length and 1.5cm (0.6in) in width. The flowering occurs in late spring or early summer. The small cup-shaped flowers, almost black in colour and less than 1cm (0.4in) in diameter, emit a fragrance that is particularly noticeable at night. They are followed by the formation of a few round fruits that start off green and then become almost black when ripe. After a somewhat harsh winter that may destroy all or part of the vegetation, the plant can regenerate from the stump or the base of the branches, depending on the severity of the pruning.

Hardy down to -7°C/-10°C (14 °F), Pittosporum 'Golf Ball' prefers a dry, not too chalky, well-drained soil, and a warm, sunny location protected from prevailing winds. In mild climates, it can be planted in rock gardens or as a border plant alongside Cistus, Armeria maritima, or creeping thyme. In colder regions, it can be grown in a container on a terrace to enjoy its delicate scent and rounded charm. This variety, like boxwood, can also be used to create a neat hedge or be shaped into topiary, but it has the advantage of being disease-free, unlike the latter, which is decimated in certain regions. Pair it with perennial geraniums, lavender, rosemary, Grevilleas, Escallonias, or combine it with the silvery foliage of Artemisias.