Weeping Pittosporum, Narrow-leaf Pittosporum
Pittosporum phillyreoides

Family: Pittosporaceae

What it is like

Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Rounded, Vase, Weeping.

Pittosporum phillyreoides is an evergreen Shrub growing to 4.5 m (14ft 9in) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is in leaf all year. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 4.5

Where it is found

Dry land away from the coast. Often in extremely dry areas.

Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Seed - dried and ground into a powder. Very bitter. A good edible gum is obtained from this plant. It oozes from wounded branches.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Gum: can be chewed as a chewing gum or can often be used as a sweetener or thickening agent in foods.

Medicine

Rating: 1

Antispasmodic, antipruritic, galactogogue. Used in the treatment of eczema, pruritis and colds.

Antipruritic: Treats itching of the skin.

Antispasmodic: Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.

Eczema: Used in the treatment of eczema - a chronic health condition that affects the skin, causing redness, dryness, itching and infections.

Galactogogue: Promotes the flow of milk in a nursing mother.

Other

Rating:

The plant contains saponins. These have the potential to be used as soap or as a bird repellent. Since they are very bitter they can be sprayed over plants that you do not want the birds to eat. The saponins are easily removed by washing or the next rain shower. Wood - close grained, very hard. Used for turnery, cabinet making etc.

Gum: Gums have a wide range of uses, especially as stabilizers, emulsifiers, thickening agents, adhesives etc.

Repellent: Plants that are said to deter but not necessarily kill various mammals, birds, insects etc.

Soap: Plants used directly as a soap substitute.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

How it is grown

Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Massing, Screen, Standard, Seashore, Specimen, Street treeRequires a well-drained light loamy soil, succeeding in very dry soils. Requires a sunny position. Plants tolerate much wetter conditions in cultivation than they experience in their native habitat. Not very hardy in Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -5°c. Plants succeed outdoors in Cornwall though they need greenhouse protection in other parts of the country. A slow growing plant. 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. Special Features: Attractive foliage, Not North American native, Fragrant flowers, Attractive flowers or blooms.

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;

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 9-11

Growth: Slow

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

This plant contains 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

Synonyms

P. angustifolium.