Pittosporum tenuifolium Victoria - Kohuhu

Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Victoria' is a variety of pittosporum with small leaves that owes its beauty to its evergreen foliage, greyish green with beautifully undulated cream-white margins. Even more unique, the edges turn a vibrant pink in cooler weather! Its bright foliage elegantly contrasts with its upright, slender black stems and branches. In early summer, its blackish-purple bell-shaped flowers are subtle but fill the garden with their strong honey fragrance. It is a tender shrub, adapted to the Mediterranean climate and tolerates sea spray, heat, and drought but not as well as its relative Pittosporum tobira. In regions with harsher winters, grow it in a pot and store it indoors during winter. It prefers sheltered positions in full sun and well-drained soil that is not too dry. Of medium size and fast-growing, it can be used to form hedges or provide highlights at the back of a border.

This shrub belongs to the family Pittosporaceae and is native to the dry regions east of the New Zealand Alps. The 'Victoria' variety forms a dense and upright shrub over time that reaches 2.5m (8ft) in height and 1.5m (5ft) in width. Its black and branching stems bear evergreen, alternate, entire, ovate, thick, shiny, leathery, undulate-edged leaves. The leaves are small, not exceeding 3 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in length and 1.5 to 2cm (1in) in width. They are greyish green with cream-white margins, turning pink under the influence of cool nights in the late season. Flowers appear from May to June. The small cup-shaped flowers, less than 1cm (1in) in diameter, are sublte and appear in the axils of the leaves and release a fragrance most noticable at night. They are followed by the formation of a few round fruits, initially green and then almost black when ripe.

Hardy down to -7C°/-10C°, Pittosporum 'Victoria' requires a dry, not too chalky, well-drained soil and a warm, sunny position with protection from prevailing winds. It is best to grow it in a pot in regions where the winter is very cold. In mild climates, it can be planted in the back of a border in groups of 3 to 5 plants or as a standalone specimen. This fast-growing variety can be used to quickly create beautiful, informal hedges that are very resistant to coastal or dry garden conditions. In colder regions, it can be placed in a container on a terrace to enjoy its delicate fragrance and Mediterranean charm. Pair it with perennial geraniums, lavender, rosemary, Grevillea, Escallonia, or combine it with the silver foliage of Artemisia.