Plant Library

Other Names:  Dwarf Karo

Description:

A lovely variety with light green, rounded leaves that are covered with gray hairs; fragrant maroon flowers emerge in early spring and cover the plant; can be pruned back drastically if necessary but occasional pruning will create a perfect hedge

Ornamental Features

Nana Pittosporum has attractive light green foliage with gray undersides which emerges chartreuse in spring on a plant with a mounded habit of growth. The fuzzy narrow leaves are highly ornamental and remain light green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Nana Pittosporum is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a mounded form. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Nana Pittosporum is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Nana Pittosporum will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It has a low canopy. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.