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Pittosporum undulatum (Victorian Box) - A large shrub or medium to large tree that can reach to 30-50 feet tall with a pyramidal shape, but is most often seen maintained as a much lower screen or hedge plant. It has dark gray bark that develops rough scales with age and attractive dark green leaves have very wavy margins. The fragrant small cream-white flowers bloom in profusion in the early spring and are followed by small green berries that age to orange before splitting open to drop sticky seeds, which can be a nuisance but also attract birds.
Plant in sun or part shade and give deep and infrequent watering – older plants are quite drought tolerant. Established plants are hardy to at least 18° F. This is an extremely useful plant as a large attractive hedge or windbreak and, since it is fire-resistant, it is good for the edges of defensible space in fire prone areas. Its reseeding in the garden and fallen flowers and sticky resin-coated seeds are on walkways does create some maintenance problems but warblers and mockingbirds are attracted to the fruit and Anna's Hummingbirds to the nectar of the flowers, as are bees - the trees buzz with excitement when in flower!
We have some of the largest Pittosporum undulatum in Santa Barbara in our nursery back parking lot (over 50 feet tall) - if you haven't seen this common hedge plant as a large tree take a look at these big specimens – even some visiting Australians have been amazed!
This plant, native to subtropical rainforests and an understory plant in Eucalyptus forests in coastal south-east Queensland, New South Wales and eastern Victoria in Australia, is considered by some to be invasive into riparian habitats in California and those that have it in their gardens know it does occasionally reseed in gardens. The California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) and PlantRight have both evaluated Pittosporum undulatum but did has not list it as an invasive weed as areas where it has naturalized are limited, and the impact risk deemed too low, however it is listed as an invasive plant in the state of Hawaii. The name Pittosporum is from Greek words 'pitta' meaning "pitch" and 'sporum' meaning "seed" in reference to the resinous coating on the seeds and the specific epithet is from the Latin word 'unda' meaning a "wave" or "surge" in reference to the characteristic wavy (undulating) margins of the leaves. Other common names for this plant are Australian Cheesewood, Victorian Laurel, Mock Orange (usually used for P. tobira) and Sweet Pittosporum.
This information about Pittosporum undulatum displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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