Pittosporum

The genus Pittosporum unites about 200 evergreen species; most of them are shrubs. The leaves are regular leathery with a smooth or slightly wavy, sometimes jagged edge. Bell-shaped or tubular flowers are usually apical, solitary or collected in inflorescences; they often have a pleasant aroma. The fruit is a ribbed or leathery capsule containing a seed surrounded by a resinous substance. The most common species is the small - seeded tobira, or common (Pittosporum tobira), which originated from Japan and China. It is a shrub with characteristic oval, glossy, leathery leaves of intense green color, collected at the ends of the shoots. From April to July, yellowish-white flowers appear in apical panicles with a scent reminiscent of orange blossom. The leaves of the 'Variegated' variety have silvery stains. Tenuifolium is a semi-hardy species with light green ovate - oblong leaves with wavy edges and very dark stems and branches. In spring, small flowers bloom in the axils of the leaves - purplish-brown with a vanilla smell. At the end of summer, round berries appear in their place. The leaves of the resinous seedling undulatum (P. undulatum) have a beautiful dark green color, their edge is wavy. The flowers are creamy white and fragrant. Other species include the thick-leaved tar-seed (P. crassifolium), Dall's tar-seed (R. dallii), and variegated tar-seed (P. heterophyllum).

The genus Pittosporum unites about 200 evergreen species; most of them are shrubs. The leaves are regular leathery with a smooth or slightly wavy, sometimes jagged edge. Bell-shaped or tubular flowers are usually apical, solitary or collected in inflorescences; they often have a pleasant aroma. The fruit is a ribbed or leathery capsule containing a seed surrounded by a resinous substance.

The most common species is the small - seeded tobira, or common (Pittosporum tobira), which originated from Japan and China. It is a shrub with characteristic oval, glossy, leathery leaves of intense green color, collected at the ends of the shoots. From April to July, yellowish-white flowers appear in apical panicles with a scent reminiscent of orange blossom. The leaves of the 'Variegated' variety have silvery stains.

Tenuifolium is a semi-hardy species with light green ovate - oblong leaves with wavy edges and very dark stems and branches. In spring, small flowers bloom in the axils of the leaves - purplish-brown with a vanilla smell. At the end of summer, round berries appear in their place.

The leaves of the resinous seedling undulatum (P. undulatum) have a beautiful dark green color, their edge is wavy. The flowers are creamy white and fragrant.

Other species include the thick-leaved tar-seed (P. crassifolium), Dall's tar-seed (R. dallii), and variegated tar-seed (P. heterophyllum).

Cultivation

Pittosporum is planted in the open ground both singly and in groups. This plant is ideally suited for hedges, especially on the seashore. In colder climates, it requires mulching the soil with straw, foliage, or other similar materials. As potted plants, they are great for balconies, terraces and large flower beds. A place that is well protected by a wall or otherwise is usually quite suitable for these plants, even in harsh winters. However, they can be put away in a cool and very well-lit unheated room for the winter. Pittosporums are planted in a permanent place at the end of April-May. They prefer fertile, well-drained and calcareous soil. But sandy soils are also suitable for them. The distance between plants when planting in hedges is about 50 cm. Young plants should be pinched a couple of times to get better branching. And plants in hedges are pruned regularly, even several times a year: they tolerate pruning very well. It is produced at the end of winter in cold climates and at the end of summer in temperate climates.

Pittosporum is planted in the open ground both singly and in groups. This plant is ideally suited for hedges, especially on the seashore. In colder climates, it requires mulching the soil with straw, foliage, or other similar materials. As potted plants, they are great for balconies, terraces and large flower beds. A place that is well protected by a wall or otherwise is usually quite suitable for these plants, even in harsh winters. However, they can be put away in a cool and very well-lit unheated room for the winter.

Pittosporums are planted in a permanent place at the end of April-May. They prefer fertile, well-drained and calcareous soil. But sandy soils are also suitable for them. The distance between plants when planting in hedges is about 50 cm. Young plants should be pinched a couple of times to get better branching. And plants in hedges are pruned regularly, even several times a year: they tolerate pruning very well. It is produced at the end of winter in cold climates and at the end of summer in temperate climates.

Location

Pittosporums prefer to be in the open sun.

Temperature

Usually, resinous seeds are stable and unpretentious (they can withstand temperatures of -10 °C) or semi-stable (the minimum winter temperature is 5-7 °C) plants. The optimal air temperature is 14-16 °C.

Watering

When growing in the open ground, only young plants are watered after they are planted in a permanent place. Adult specimens tolerate drought well. When growing in pots, plants always need slightly moist soil.

Transplant

Potted plants are transplanted in the spring, each time using a slightly larger pot than the previous one, up to a diameter of 40-50 cm. Subsequently, it is sufficient to update the surface layer of the soil.

Reproduction

In May-June, semi-lignified cuttings (twigs of the current year with a "heel") are taken from the side shoots with a length of about 10 cm. They are planted in the soil, which is a mixture of sand and peat with the addition of a small amount of lime at a temperature of 18 °C. After rooting, cuttings are planted singly in 8-10-centimeter cups. Then they are occasionally transplanted into larger and larger containers until they are placed permanently, usually after a year. Sowing is carried out in March, after separating the seeds from the resinous substance, and covering them with a thin layer of sand. They use, as a rule, seed soil can withstand relatively low temperatures. After the emergence of seedlings, the seedlings are planted singly in cups. After 2-3 years, they are finally planted, and until then, from time to time they are transplanted into spacious pots.

Diseases

With significant lesions of black aphids, the shoots curl up into a tube. Aphids are eliminated by treatment with appropriate medications. Mealybugs can settle on the leaves, causing extensive yellowing, and then falling off them. On the paddy (secreted by aphids) can develop rabble. Worms are eliminated with the help of anticoccidal drugs.

Acquisition

The best time to buy a tar seed is in spring. Choose young plants, but already with abundant branching. The foliage should be glossy, without spots or deformations.