Kōhūhū (pittosporum)
A fast-growing, easy-care small tree widely used for hedging thanks to its dense, small, glossy leaves and tolerance of regular trimming. Small dark red-purple flowers are honey-scented at night. Left untrimmed it can reach 8-10m, but as a maintained hedge it's readily kept at 1-3m.
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- low
- Spacing
- 60cm
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Grows in
- Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
- Mature height
- 8m
- Flowering season
- Oct, Nov
- Attracts wildlife
- Native bees
- Evergreen
- Yes
- Common pests
- Aphids, Scale insects
When to plant by region
In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: March-April and September-November. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: September-November.
Growing stages
Planting & establishmentFirst few months
- Water while establishing, though this species copes with dry conditions once settled
- Space plants according to whether you're growing a hedge or a specimen tree
Early growthFirst 1-2 years
- Growth is fast, so start hedge trimming early to build a dense shape from the base
- Watch for aphids and scale insects on soft new growth
Flowering & maturity
- Small dark red-purple flowers are honey-scented at night
- Left untrimmed it becomes an 8-10m small tree with honey-scented flowers you'd otherwise trim away, so decide early whether a hedge or a tree shape suits the spot better
- Continue checking for aphids and scale insects, which can build up on dense hedge growth