Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Abbotsbury Gold’

Dense and thin leathery foliage. Pale yellowy-green leaves turn darker as the season progresses. Can grow to 3m tall.

Pretty leaves, wavily-edged and held stiff and solid like a good classic pittosporum should.  Each one brandishes a midrib of palest green, almost white, which makes a very striking flourish against the glossed green deepness of this mounding, evergreen shrub. Nice contrast among a mixed planting of evergreens, and particularly appealing when planted as humps and bumps of solidity among softer shapes, the kind of things that move and sway in contrast. We picture it dotted among trembling heaps of Deschampsia ‘Golden dew’, or with an army golden Hakonechloa gathered fuzzily beneath it. Lovely.

Just as good as low, dense hedging in a sheltered coastal location, or somewhere with a mild microclimate like London. Properly nice in a pot as well: keep it well clipped. Oft-touted as ‘drought tolerant’ but be mindful that it is incumbent upon you to bring it what the roots cannot reach.

Like all Pittosporums, this one enjoys a light sunny position. It will tolerate partial shade but is definitely better for the light.

N.B. When clipping several plants with the same tool, have a bucket containing a 5% bleach solution and swish your blades around for 30 seconds between plants to sterilise them. This will help avoid the chance of cross contamination of disease.

As with all woody plants, plant high, exposing as much of the taper at the base of the trunk as possible. Allowing soil to accumulate round the base of a tree can be fatal. Keep very well watered when first planted.