Pittosporum tobira var. nana Neige du mont Ventoux - Japanese Pittosporum

Pittosporum tobira 'Nana Neige du Mont Ventoux' is a dwarf variety of Japanese Pittosporum that stands out for its beautiful foliage, strongly margined with cream-yellow on young leaves and then with cream-white on mature leaves. Evergreen in winter, dotted with small fragrant flowers in spring, this shrub is decorative all year round. With its small size, bright foliage, and naturally dense and regular habit, this selection is well suited for small gardens and ornamental terraces. Fairly frost-sensitive and water-efficient, Japanese Pittosporum is widely planted in coastal areas and dry gardens in mild regions.

Pittosporum tobira is native to Japan and belongs to the Pittosporaceae family. The cultivar 'Neige du Mont Ventoux' was selected in a nursery located near Mont Ventoux, in the Vaucluse region. On a 'Nana' Pittosporum, a branch with white-margined foliage appeared, which, once propagated by cutting, revealed a very stable variegation over time. This shrub has a well-rounded and regular habit, and its growth is slow: it does not exceed 1m (3ft) in height and reaches about 80cm (32in) in width. It bears entire, ovate, and spatulate leaves, thick and glossy, 5cm (2in) long, which are alternately arranged on the branches. They persist all year round, even in winter. The leaves are variegated from light yellow to white on a light green background. Flowering, in favourable climates, occurs in May, but it is not very abundant. The small bell-shaped flowers, white or yellowish-green, very fragrant, 1cm (1in) in diameter, appear in small terminal clusters on the foliage.

Pittosporum tobira 'Neige du Mont Ventoux' can be planted in rockeries, bordering flowerbeds, in low evergreen hedges, or in containers on a terrace to enjoy its beautiful foliage and the delicate fragrance of its flowers. It is preferable to cultivate it in pots in colder regions, which allows protection from frost in an unheated greenhouse or conservatory. It can be used like boxwood and pairs well with many shrubs such as laurel, viburnum, myrtle, or osmanthus. This shrub, which can withstand severe pruning if necessary, is very versatile.

Tips: Apply a good organic fertilizer every year for better flowering. In pots, pruning is almost unnecessary.