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Pittosporum tobira 'Wheeler's Dwarf' (Dwarf Mock Orange) - A dense low growing cultivar of Mock Orange, Pittosporum tobira, that grows to 3-4 feet tall by about twice as wide with same rich green foliage as the species. Unlike the species this cultivar more rarely produces flowers or fruit.
Plant in full sun or shade, although plants may sunburn in hot inland exposures. Hardy to 10-15° F (severely damaged at 10° F). A very adaptable shrub that will tolerate seaside conditions, inland heat and alkaline soils. It is good for a low border planting or as a large scale groundcover but does poorly in overly wet or poor draining soils. Prune only if plant becomes too large as continuous pruning ruins shape and this work is best done in late winter. Unfortunately in recent years we have seen severe girdling of this plant in the Santa Barbara area that is caused by rodents feeding on the stems – it must taste really good to them!
Pittosporum tobira 'Wheeler's Dwarf' was the result of a chance seedling of Pittosporum tobira from seed sowed by Carl Wheeler in 1951 at Wheeler's Central Georgia Nurseries in Macon Georgia. The plant was introduced in 1968 and first described in 1969 in Arnoldia 29:6. It is known in Australia as 'Miss Muffett. For more information about the species see our listing of Pittosporum tobira.
The information displayed on this page about Pittosporum tobira 'Wheeler's Dwarf' is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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