Pittosporum tenuifolium Emerald Dome - Kohuhu

Pittosporum tenuifolium Emerald Dome is a recent variety forming, as its name suggests, a true dome of elegant, very dense greenery, devoid of flowering, with a colour that leans towards olive green. This vigorous bush is adorned with pretty evergreen leaves, shiny, elegantly enhanced by a well-defined central vein, of a lighter colour. A plant for mild climates and well-drained dry soil, it is perfect for providing the persistent structure of a large free hedge or a bed. It will thrive in sunny situations, in a dry garden, or in a large pot to be stored in cold climates. Suitable for coastal areas. Does not require pruning!

Pittosporum tenuifolium, also known as small-leaved Pittosporum, is a bush from the Pittosporaceae family. It originates from dry regions located to the east of the Alps in New Zealand. The Emerald Dome variety, obtained in 2012 by the Angevin nursery Minier, stands out with a more graphic, ball-shaped habit, a more vigorous growth, and a lack of flowering. Emerald Dome forms over time (its growth is quite slow) a large, dense evergreen bush, in the shape of a wide cone with a slightly flattened top. At maturity, it will reach an average height of 2.50m (8ft 2in) with a spread of 2m (7ft 6in). Its naturally well-groomed habit and slow growth make pruning completely optional. Its thin black branches further accentuate the elegance of its foliage. They bear persistent, alternate, entire, ovate, thick, very shiny, leathery leaves with slightly undulated edges. They are small, not exceeding 3 to 4cm (1.2 - 1.6in) in length and 1.5 to 2cm (0.6 - 0.8in) in width.

Hardy to -7C°/-10°C, Pittosporum tenuifolium Emerald Dome requires a dry, not too chalky, well-drained soil, a warm, sunny location protected from prevailing winds. It tolerates sea spray well, which allows it to be used without reservation in an informal hedge, in a coastal garden. In mild climates, it can also be planted on a large slope or at the back of a bed. Pair it with Pistacia lentiscus, Olearia, Nandina, rosemary, Grevilleas, Escallonias, or combine it with the silver foliage of Atriplex halimus. A little further from the sea, it will also accompany Oleanders, Elaeagnus, the Pineapple Broom (Cytisus battandieri), or the Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia). In colder regions, it can be planted in a container on a terrace to enjoy its Mediterranean charm.