Banyalla
Pittosporum bicolor
Family: Pittosporaceae
What it is like
Pittosporum bicolor is an evergreen Shrub growing to 5 m (16ft 5in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is in leaf all year, in flower from November to April. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
Height (m): 5
Where it is found
Not known
Australia - New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 0
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 3
Makes a good wind-resistant hedge in the warmest gardens in Britain. Australian settlers used it for axe-handles, billiard-cues. Tasmanian aborigines for clubs called waddies.
Hedge: Plants that can be grown as hedges.
Hedge: Hedge
How it is grown
Succeeds in any well-drained soil, including dry soils, preferably in a sunny position but also succeeding in light shade. Plants are not very hardy in Britain, they require winter protection at Kew Gardens but do well outdoors in the southern and western maritime counties where some specimens have reached 10 metres tall. In the wild, this species has been reported as tall as 44 feet (14 m). The small flowers are highly fragrant. They open over a long season, though they are mainly open in the spring. Very amenable to pruning, plants can be cut right back into old wood if required. The species in this genus are very likely to hybridize with other members of the genus. When growing a species from seed it is important to ensure that the seed either comes from a known wild source, or from isolated specimens in cultivation. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.
Propagating it: Seed - sow when ripe in the autumn or in late winter in a warm greenhouse. The seed usually germinates freely. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, move the plants to a cold frame as soon as they are established and plant out late in the following spring. Consider giving them some protection from the cold during their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 7cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Poor to fair percentage. Basal ripewood cuttings late autumn in a cold frame.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Hedge;
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: 8-11
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Dry, moist
Things to keep in mind
Although no mention has been found for this species, some members of this genus contain saponins. Saponins are found in many foods, such as some beans, and although they are fairly toxic to people they are poorly absorbed by the body and most pass straight through without any problem. They are also broken down if the food is thoroughly cooked for a long time. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish.
Its other names
Local names
Banyalla or Banalla (aboriginal name in Victoria, Australia), Cheesewood, Waddywood. Tallow-wood, is also applied to the huge-growing Eucalyptus microcorys. Tolosa Wood, Whitewood, Dragon's Blood.