If you are wondering what Pittosporum plants are used for, and what to plant with them, you’ve come to the right place. Pittosporum are suitable for foundation plantings, massing, and accent uses. They are useful in making screens, informal hedges, and windbreaks. Common Pittosporum include Pittosporum tobira, Pittosporum tenuifolium and Pittosporum Tom thumb.
The long branches of Pittosporum can be trimmed to shape via pruning. However, it should be stated that Pittosporum does not respond well to shearing. It is also of little use for formal hedges. You can cultivate Pittosporum in just about any type of soil as it is not selective. However, it thrives better in a fertile, well-drained soil. It can also grow well either in full sun or partial shade.
Pittosporum tenuifolium Banoway Bay (‘Breebay’) (PBR)
Younger Pittosporum plants have leaves that are borne in whorls that entirely conceal their stems. The older plants on the other hand have thick, woody, as well as contorted branches.
IN THIS ARTICLE
What to grow with Pittosporum?
This article will help garden owners and plant lovers who want to plant complementary trees with their Pittosporums. You’ll find useful informations about how you should plant them and which plants to choose.
What Companion plants for Pittosporum?
There are some companion plants that complement Pittosporum plants and look so amazing when planted together. Below are some plants that look good with Pittosporum.
Planting Pittosporum with Pink Hydrangea and Osmanthus
Cream de Mint Pittosporum cultivated alongside Pink Splendor Hydrangea, and Goshiki Osmanthus are perfect if you want to brighten as well as add colour to shaded spots in your house. This plant combination is also suitable for creating garden layers.
The proper way to create this garden layer is to plant the low-growing Pittosporum in the front. The taller Osmanthus should be cultivated at the back. Then the middle of both should be reserved for the Hydrangea.
Planting Pittosporum with Acaena
This combination involve cultivating Pittosporum tenuifolium (Kohuhu) and Acaena inermis ‘Purpurea’. The Acaena produces a purple-brown coloured foliage. The combination of these plants will ensure that there is an abundant supply of greenery around your garden.
Growing Pittosporum alongside Blue Oat Grass
Cultivating Helictotrichon sempervirens, popularly called Blue oat grass will make an amazing combination when planted next to a Pittosporum. The blue oat grass produces a steel blue arching foliage and it is able to grow between 2-3 feet.
Planting Pittosporum with Geraniums
Geranium is a perennial shrub that looks good when planted next to Pittosporum. It is advisable that you choose a variety that is around 1-3 feet in height so that it can be cultivated at the base of your Pittosporum without blocking the appearance of the shrubs.
What Can You Plant Next To Pittosporum?
When cultivating a garden, planting larger Pittosporums can be impressive. However, you should consider cultivating other plants around and under them to bring out the best in the Pittosporums.
Planting Cornus And Carex with Pittosporum
You are sure to get an effective, year-long backdrop for the stems in winter and green leaves in the summer with the combination of these plants. Combining red-stemmed Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ with evergreen, dark foliage of Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Tom Thumb’, and Carex morrowii ‘Fishers Form’ will an amazing outlook in your garden or yard.
Planting with Penstemon ‘Rich Ruby’ (Beardtongue)
You can also plant Penstemon ‘Rich Ruby’ next to Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Tom Thumb’. This particular variety of Penstemon is ideal for naturalistic planting schemes and combines well with Pittosporum. The bell-shaped and burgundy coloured flower of this Penstemon variety will certainly provide a picturesque environment.
Other plants you can cultivate next to Pittosporum includes: Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ (smooth Hydrangea), which is regarded as a gardener’s favorite; and Ilex crenata ‘Sky Pencil’ (Japanese Holly), whose dark green leaves are evergreen throughout the year.
What Is Similar To Pittosporum?
There are several plants that are similar to the Pittosporum plant. These plants are able to provide a natural barrier just as Pittosporum plants do. They also serve as plant to beautify gardens and yards. Below are some of those plants.
Syzygium (Lilly Pilly)
Lilly pilly is a fast-growing plant that is capable of growing up to 5m in height. This shrub is decorated with white coloured fluffy pom pom flowers in spring.
These flowers are accompanied by small, pink coloured edible berries. Lilly pilly are very hardy and can survive in many climatic conditions. Its varieties include: Syzygium ‘Big Red’, and Syzygium ‘Resilience’.
Photinia ‘Red Robin’
Photinia is an attractive, and vigorous shrub with lush foliage. The best feature of this plant is its fiery red foliage on new growth as well as dainty white flowers that usually appear in spring.
This one can grow up to 5m and able to tolerate frost. Photinia is a very popular plant cultivated for screening.
Viburnums
This shrub is one of the most suitable plants for screening and hedging. This plant’s white flowers appear in late winter and early spring. Viburnum exists in different varieties depending on the one you are looking for.
Viburnum tinus which has small leaves is ideal for informal hedges. The larger-leaved variety called Viburnum odoratissimum ‘Sweet Viburnums’, is mostly cultivated for its evergreen, dense, and glossy foliage. Although they can survive in many types of soils, cultivating them in a soil enriched with composted manure is advisable.
Viburnums grow best in sunny or partial shade positions and watering them regularly is important.
Bougainvilleas (if your climate allows!)
You can find these plants in varieties of colours, height, and growing habits. Bougainvilleas are also hardy plants that thrive well in dry conditions. Their bracts of fluorescent colour makes them very attractive when cultivated as hedges and screens.
To Wrap Up
One of the amazing things about Pittosporum plants is that they just don’t add colour to gardens and yards. You can also combine them with other plants to give your garden and its surrounding that amazing feel.
There are no occasions where Pittosporums look awkward when combined with other plants. Instead, they complement each other and bring out the beauty in each other. Whichever plant you opt to plant your Pittosporum with, your garden is certainly going to keep heads turning.
