Common Name:

General Information

Pittosporum illicioides is an evergreen shrub growing around 5 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for use as a source of materials. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens, where it can be used to form a hedge or screen.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southeast China, Japan

Habitat

Forests, thickets, valleys, stream sides; at elevations from 100 - 2,200 metres[]

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	5.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Pittosporum illicioides is somewhat winter hardy, known to tolerate occasional temperatures down to around -8°c when fully dormant[].
Pittosporum species generally grow best in a sunny position, but tolerate light shade. They succeed in most well-drained soils[, ], this species preferring one that is slightly acid[].
The small white flowers are fragrant.
Although flowers usually appear to be hermaphrodite, many species of Pittosporum are functionally dioecious, with individual specimens bearing mainly or totally flowers of one sex only. Even so, occasional functionally hermaphrodite flowers will appear and, in at least some species, these flowers can be self-compatible and produce fertile seed even in the absence of any other plants of that species[].
The species in this genus are also very likely to hybridize with other members of the genus[]. When growing a species from seed it is important to ensure that the seed either comes from a known wild source, or from isolated specimens in cultivation.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant responds well to trimming and can be grown as a hedge[].

Other Uses

Fats and oils can be extracted from the seeds and used for making soaps[].

Fibres obtained from the stems can be made into paper[].

Propagation

Seed - sow when ripe in the autumn or in late winter in a warm greenhouse[, ]. The seed usually germinates freely. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, move the plants to a cold frame as soon as they are established and plant out late in the following spring[]. Consider giving them some protection from the cold during their first winter outdoors.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 7cm with a heel, mid summer in a frame[].
Basal ripewood cuttings late autumn in a cold frame[].