Pittosporum
Pittosporum tenuifolium
Also called Tawhiwhi and Kohuhu
Garden plant · ShrubsFlorists buy it by the armful and gardeners mostly do not notice why — pale wavy leaves on jet-black twigs, which is a contrast nothing else in a British garden offers.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Once a weekWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade, sheltered
- Feed
- Every 45 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — an average winter RHS H4, to -10°C
- Size
- 6 m tall · 3 m across
- Lifecycle
- Shrub
- Origin
- New Zealand
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-11. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.