Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Irish Luck’ . (Black Matipo)

A small upright shrub, glossy leaves edged with fine silver hairs on the leaf margins. The inconspicuous, burgundy coloured flowers are lightly scented. Height 3m and spread 2m over 10 years.

The terribly fine and downy silver hairs which fringe each leaf give this Pitto a distinctive character with an ever-so hazy blurriness to each leaf. Subtle, to be sure, but it’s a nice differentiating quality to this already very finely-textured shrub.

In all other regards ‘Irish Luck’ is a proper tenuifolium, with an intricate and dense framework of filamentous black stems on which the foliage trembles and shivers. Lovely when the breeze catches them, and the silveriness of this one really shimmers which is another reason to add a few to a mixed composition of shrubs. Setting them against coarser and more defined foliar shapes amplifies the textural qualities of all parties, and their neatly rolling form makes them a grand lower-tier shrub for the front of a border or flanking a nice run of paved pathway. Bigger ones (3 m x 2 m can seem pretty substantial in a bijou plot) are extremely handsome too: delicately present and never overwhelming.

I have seen some excellent examples of this Pitto all along the East Coast in municipal plantings and seafront gardens. Some have reached towering, lumbering proportions and are very grand and clearly well-loved and competently-clipped. These examples tended to be sheltered by tougher neighbours who take the battering gusts but there are plenty of specimens in very exposed spots too: these being more hunkered-down, gnarled and sculpted by the wind. Coarse but delightful and full of character.

Growing as it does rather better (visually) in sheltered sites away from cold and drying winds, they will appreciate a well-drained but moist soil. A warm wall to hillock up against will always be enjoyed, and like all the tenuifoliums it likes to be in sun to partial shade.

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.