Kohuhu Pittosporum

Looking to instantly elevate your curb appeal? The fast-growing Kohuhu Shrub (Pittosporum tenuifolium) delivers lush greenery, year-round interest, and sweetly scented blooms. Native to New Zealand, this handsome broadleaf evergreen adds polish and privacy in equal measure. With shiny, leathery leaves and richly-colored late spring blossoms, Kohuhu offers exotic good looks and laid-back care requirements!

Kohuhu matures into a modest-sized, naturally shaped evergreen shrub or small tree. It forms a dense screen with upright branches clad in glossy green foliage. Come late spring into early summer, it quietly perfumes the air with small, deep, wine-colored, bell-shaped flowers followed by decorative gray seed capsules. These blooms provide subtle elegance as a backdrop or accent in colorful beds and borders.

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Key Features

• Fragrant, dark purplish-red bell-shaped flowers in late spring
• Glossy, leathery, evergreen leaves year-round
• Moderate size is ideal for screening or accent use
• Broadleaf evergreen with excellent drought and heat tolerance
• Works well in clay or sandy soils with good drainage

Landscaping Uses

Often used as a hedge, privacy screen, specimen tree, or patio accent, Kohuhu is a prized evergreen in USDA Zones 8 through 11 and does especially well in Mediterranean or mild maritime climates. Kohuhu grows to a refined shape, reaching around 20 - 30 feet tall and 10 - 15 feet wide, depending on growing conditions and pruning. Use this elegant evergreen to structure and soften the landscape!

• Ideal as a privacy hedge or screen
• Beautiful as a patio tree or container specimen
• Works well in mixed borders and foundation plantings
• Makes a natural fence or boundary hedge
• Elegant focal point or backdrop for landscaping beds

Care and Maintenance

Kohuhu is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that is easy to grow and maintain, even in less-than-perfect conditions. It's a popular pick for its ability to thrive with minimal fuss once established.

Highly adaptable and easy-going, Kohuhu thrives in well-drained soils, be it sand, loam, or even clay, and is surprisingly drought-tolerant once established. It withstands both full sun and partial shade and even holds its own in coastal conditions.

• Planting Time: Best planted in spring or fall. Use Nature Hills’ Root Booster at planting
• Sun Needs: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Needs: Prefers well-drained soil; tolerates sandy, loamy, and clay soils
• Moisture Needs: Average moisture needs - Water well in the first year using the Finger Test. These are drought-tolerant once established
• Arborist Mulch: Apply 3-4 inches of arborist mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds
• Fertilization Needs: Light feeding in early spring with a balanced fertilizer is beneficial
• Pruning Info: Light pruning to shape or maintain size; can be pruned after flowering for hedge use
• Renewal Pruning: Not typically needed unless rejuvenating an old specimen
• Special Needs/Tips For Success:
• Tolerates heat, drought, coastal conditions, and a wide range of soil types
• Low-maintenance and deer-resistant
• Tolerates urban pollution and makes a great street-side plant

A Laid-Back Showstopper Worth Swooning Over

Want a plant that does it all! Screens, scents, shines, and shrugs off stress? Kohuhu Pittosporum is your backyard MVP! From fragrant blooms to glossy leaves that gleam year-round, it’s perfect for gardeners who want form and function without fuss. Whether you're crafting a cozy courtyard or building out a bold border, this New Zealand native brings effortless elegance.

Buy now and Nature Hills will ship this fantastic shrub to your door!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kohuhu deer-resistant?
Yes, Kohuhu is known to be deer-resistant, making it a great choice for rural or suburban gardens.

Does Kohuhu grow in clay soil?
Yes, it adapts well to a range of soils, including clay, as long as the site has good drainage.

Can Kohuhu grow in shade?
It tolerates partial shade but will grow more densely and flower best in full sun.

What zones is Kohuhu hardy in?
Kohuhu is hardy in USDA Zones 8-11.

Is Kohuhu a fast grower?
Yes, it's considered fast-growing and fills in nicely as a hedge or screen in just a few seasons.

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