Maintenance Landscaping Design

Pittosporum variegatum is an evergreen shrub that is native to Australia and New Zealand. The plant has glossy, dark green leaves that are variegated with white and cream. The plant produces small, white flowers in the spring. Pittosporum variegatum is an easy to care for plant that is drought tolerant and can tolerate full sun to partial shade.

Popular name

• Snowflake bush
  
• Japanese pittosporum
  
• Variegated pittosporum
  
• Cream pittosporum
  
• Pittosporum

Good to Know

• Pittosporum variegatum is a flowering plant in the family Pittosporaceae.
  
• It is native to Australia, New Zealand, and Norfolk Island.
  
• The species was first described by James Edward Smith in 179
  
• The leaves are alternately arranged and are 5-15 cm long and 2-6 cm wide.
  
• The flowers are white or cream-colored, 5-10 mm diameter, with five petals.
  
• The fruit is a dark brown or black, spherical to oval-shaped capsule, 5-10 mm diameter.
  
• The seeds are black, shiny, and kidney-shaped.
  
• The plant grows in a variety of habitats, including rainforests, forests, and coastal areas.
  
• It is commonly used as an ornamental plant.
  
• It has a number of potential uses in traditional medicine.

Related plant:
Pittosporum Shrub

Planting Process

1. For pittosporum variegatum, first step is to find a planting location. It is best to find an area with full sun and well-drained soil.
   
2. Once you have found the perfect spot, dig a hole that is twice the size of the plant’s root ball.
   
3. Next, you will want to mix some organic matter into the planting hole. This will help the plant to thrive.
   
4. After the hole is prepared, it is time to plant your pittosporum variegatum. Gently remove the plant from its container and place it in the hole.
   
5. Fill in the hole with soil, tamping it down around the plant.
   
6. Water the plant deeply immediately after planting.
   
7. For the first few weeks after planting, water the pittosporum variegatum every day. Once it is established, you can reduce watering to once or twice a week.
   
8. Fertilize the plant every few weeks during the growing season.
   
9. Prune the plant as needed to keep it the desired shape.
   
10. Enjoy your beautiful pittosporum variegatum!

Related plant:
Pittosporum Elizabeth

Soil Requirement

About soil condition, Pittosporum variegatum is not too demanding and once established, it is quite drought tolerant. It prefers a well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5, but it can tolerate a wide range of soils including heavy clay. This species has good salt spray tolerance and is often used in coastal plantings.

About light

So, like the other pittosporum plants, the Variegated species does best in full sun to partial shade. It will tolerate some deep shade, but the foliage will be less dense. This plant can be used as a hedge, screen, or specimen.

Ideal Temperature

The temperature condition that is most favorable for Pittosporum variegatum is between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. This plant does not tolerate temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius. Pittosporum variegatum will go into a state of dormancy if the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius for an extended period of time.

Humidity Requirement

Ideal humidity condition for this plant is around 40%. If the humidity gets too low, the leaves will start to turn brown and drop off. If the humidity gets too high, the leaves will start to turn yellow and drop off.

Fertilizer Requirement

The fertilizer, this plant needs, is a low phosphorus, high potassium fertilizer. The ideal fertilizer, for this plant, is one that has a 2-1-1 or 3-1-1 NPK ratio. If you can not find a fertilizer with those ratios, you can use a 5-10-5 fertilizer, but you will need to use less of it. The root system on this plant is very sensitive to changes in the environment. If the plant is moved, it will often go into shock and lose all its leaves.

Plant Pruning

Pruning is an important part of keeping your Pittosporum variegatum healthy and looking its best. Pruning not only shapes the plant, but can also help to remove dead or damaged leaves and stems. Pittosporum variegatum can be pruned at any time of year, but it is best to do so in late winter or early spring.

Plant Propagation

Propagation is best carried out by taking semiripe cuttings in late summer. The cuttings should be taken from new growth and should be about 10cm (4in) long. Use a sharp knife to take a cutting just below a leaf joint. Remove the lower leaves and dip the base of the cutting into hormone rooting powder. plant the cutting in a propagator or a pot containing moistened peat and sand. Cover with a plastic bag or propagator lid to maintain high humidity. When the cutting has rooted, which should take four to six weeks, pot it on into a 7.5-10cm (3-4in) pot.

Growth Rate

Usually, the plant growth rate during the spring and summer when the weather is warm and there is plenty of rain. The growth rate can be as high as 50 cm per month. However, during the winter months, the growth rate slows down considerably and may only be a few centimeters per month.

Basic Problems

Common problems for this kind of plant are leaf spot, whiteflies, and scale. Leaf spot is caused by the fungi cordylogyne palmarum and corynespora cassiicola. Whiteflies are common pests of many plants, and they can be difficult to control. Scale are small, hard-bodied insects that can infest pittosporum variegatum.

Basics of Growing

• If you are growing pittosporum variegatum in a pot, make sure that the pot has good drainage holes.
  
• Pittosporum variegatum prefers a sunny spot, but it can also tolerate partial shade.
  
• This plant is drought tolerant, so water it only when the soil is dry.
  
• To encourage blooming, fertilize pittosporum variegatum with a high-phosphorus fertilizer.
  
• The best time to prune pittosporum variegatum is in early spring, before new growth begins.
  
• If you live in an area with cold winters, you may need to provide some protection for your pittosporum variegatum plant.
  
• Pittosporum variegatum is generally pest and disease free.
  
• This plant can be propagated by seed or by rooting stem cuttings.
  

Related Plants

• Pittosporum variegatum var. major
  
• Pittosporum variegatum var. sinuatum
  
• Pittosporum variegatum var. anisatum
  
• Pittosporum variegatum subsp. anisatum
  
• Pittosporum variegatum var. oblongifolium
  
• Pittosporum variegatum var. arbustorum
  
• Pittosporum variegatum var. tomentosum
  
• Pittosporum variegatum subsp. lineare
  
• Pittosporum variegatum var. virens
  
• Pittosporum variegatum var. marjorie

Source:
JC Raulston Arboretum - Our Plants - Pittosporum heterophyllum 'Variegatum'
JC Raulston Arboretum - Our Plants - Search Results
Pittosporum - trees.stanford.edu