Accession Count: 4
Common Name:
willow pittosporum, weeping pittosporum
Family Name:
Pittosporaceae
Botanical Name:
Pittosporum phillyraeoides
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Pittospsorum phillyraeoides is a slow growing evergreen perennial, growing either as a single or multi-trunk tree with pendulous branches that form a weeping growth habit. It can grow up to 20 to 30 feet high and provides filtered shade to its surroundings. A signature characteristic of this plant is its sparse, narrow, linear, light green leaves. The leaves are alternating and grow up to three inches long and have a waxy, glabrous surface that give it its smooth texture (2). The bark is distinctively white with maturity and mottled in youth. Small yellow flowers grow in clusters, blooming in late winter while giving off a sweet fragrance. Flowers are followed by hard, multicarpulate fruit that split open to reveal sticky, orange to red seeds in the spring (1).
Compound:
Pit phi
Geographic Origin:
Australia
Ecozone Origin:
Australasia
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
This plant originated, and is still strongly distributed in, Southern Australia, and also thrives in dry, desert regions of the southwestern United States.
Cultivation Notes:
It is valued for its aesthetic qualities, filtered light shade, and drought tolerance in gardens and xeric landscapes, and because of its upright habit it also a useful plant to grow in narrow spaces. It is grown from seed, ideally in full sun to light shade and irrigated only occasionally until its full establishment. It does not tolerate water logged soils. To prevent sunscald, pruning should be kept minimal with occasional thinning cuts to remove small, low hanging branches. However, in order to improve branch structure and maintain upright growth in its mature stages, it is recommended to prune and train only while this plant is young.
Ethnobotany:
It has traditionally been used by Aboriginal Australians as a medicinal plant to support general health and well-being. An infusion of the leaves, seeds, fruit pulp or wood is used to treat bruises, muscle ache, sprains and cramps. These infusions are also made into drinks to induce lactation as wells as treat colds and coughs.
Height:
20 - 50 feet
Width:
11 - 15 feet
Growth Rate:
Moderate Growing
Grow Season:
Spring
Flower Season:
Spring
Color:
Yellow
Function:
Screen
Spread:
Spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
