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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Pittosporaceae (Pittosporums) |
| Origin: New Zealand (Australasia) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Maroon |
| Bloomtime: Spring |
| Height: 8-12 feet |
| Width: 6-8 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Seaside: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
| May be Poisonous (More Info): Yes |
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Pittosporum crassifolium (Karo) - An evergreen shrub that holds grey-green round leaves that are covered with greyish hairs. Upright growing to 8 to 12+ (known to reach 25 feet) feet tall by 6 to 10+ feet wide with dark stems holding narrow oblong 2 to 3 inch long gray leaves. The spring-blooming maroon flowers are not outstandingly show but are interesting and fragrant. Will grow in full sun and little water, but looks best in part sun with regular watering. Tolerant to seaside conditions and fairly dry conditions. A great upright hedging plant along the coast. There is also a compact form called Pittosporum crassifolium 'Compacta'. This plant is found naturally growing around forest margins and along streams in coastal localities of the Kermadec Islands and northern areas of the North Island of New Zealand. The name for the genus comes from the Greek words 'pitta' meaning "pitch" and 'spora' meaning "seed" in reference to the sticky seeds of many members of the genus and the specific epithet is from the Latin words 'crass' meaning "thick" and 'folia' meaning "leaves" in reference to the leaves of this species, which are thicker than most Pittosporum. This species was firs discovered in 1833 by the Kew trained English botanist Richard Cunningham and was first illustrated in Curtis Botanical Magazine in 1872 but was reportedly introduced into California prior to 1871 by Stephen Nolan at his Belle View Nursery in Oakland, California and planted into the Strybing Arboretum in 1899.
Information displayed on this page about Pittosporum crassifolium is based on the research conducted about it in our library and from reliable online resources. We also note those observations we have made of this plant as it grows in the nursery's garden and in other gardens, as well how crops have performed in our nursery field. We will incorporate comments we receive from others, and welcome to hear from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if they share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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