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A mature Japanese Pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira) growing in a residential garden bed

In the landscape

Accent · Barrier · Flowering tree · Foundation · Hedge · Specimen · Coastal · Container

Data sources

Missouri Botanical Garden, NC State Extension

Japanese Pittosporum

Pittosporum tobira · Perennial

Japanese Pittosporum is a fast-growing perennial, hardy in USDA zones 9-10, that matures to about 10–15 ft × 10–15 ft. It does best in full sun and part shade with medium water needs in well-drained, moist and occasionally-dry soil. Expect cream and white blooms in spring. It stands up well to salt and grows happily in containers.

USDA zones
9-10
Sun
Full sun, Part shade
Water
Medium
Mature size
10–15 ft × 10–15 ft
Spacing
6–12 ft
Growth rate
Fast
Maintenance
Low
Soil
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally-dry
Foliage
Green, Variegated
Bloom color
Cream, White
Bloom season
Spring
Tough against
Salt
Native to
China, Japan

Will it survive your winters?

We score Japanese Pittosporum’s freeze-trouble range against the real coldest nights your area has recorded.

Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.

More plants for your zone: Zone 9 · Zone 10

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