How to identify Japanese pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira)
Japanese pittosporum, also known as Japanese mock orange, Australian laurel
Japanese pittosporum is a robust evergreen shrub reaching up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) in height and 12 feet (3.6 meters) across. Its growth habit is dense and mounding, with leaves that are obovate and possess entire margins. The foliage provides a lush backdrop to creamy-white, fragrant flowers that appear in terminal umbels, reminiscent of orange blossoms. Following the flowering period, japanese pittosporum produces green berries that mature to a brown hue and house orange seeds.
Lifespan: Perennial
Plant Type: Shrub
Leaf Type: Evergreen
Creamy-white flowers with orange scent; 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) in size.
Pear-shaped green capsules transitioning to brown; 0.4-0.8 inches (1-2 cm).
Thick, leathery leaves with obovate shape; 1.5-4 inches (3.8-10 cm) long.
Dense, mounding growth habit up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) tall.
Smooth, thick stems with sympodial growth; 0.5-1 inch (1.27-2.54 cm) diameter.
Japanese pittosporum's leaves are alternate, simple, and thickly leathery, forming a dense cluster at the ends of branches. They span 1.5-4 inches (3.8-10 cm) in length, with an obovate to spatulate shape. The leaf tips are rounded (obtuse) and the bases narrow (cuneate). Their entire margins are slightly rolled under. The leaves are dark green, smooth (glabrous), and feature a reticulate vein pattern on the underside.
Japanese pittosporum flowers are creamy white and transition to dull yellowish as they age. They are fragrant with an orange scent and feature five petals. Each flower measures 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) and forms clusters in a terminal umbel of the same size. These blooms appear in late spring.
The stem of japanese pittosporum exhibits sympodial growth, characterized by successive lateral branches taking over the role of the leader shoot. It has a smooth, light gray to brown bark with a somewhat uneven, knobby texture due to leaf scars and branching nodes. The stems are relatively thick, measuring about 0.5-1 inch (1.27-2.54 cm) in diameter, supporting a moderately branched structure. Stems of mature plants may exhibit a slight, subtle twisting pattern as they age.
The fruit of japanese pittosporum is a distinctive pear-shaped capsule, notable for its three-valved structural form. Initially, this capsule exudes a vibrant green hue, which gradually transitions to a mature brown as it ages. The texture is relatively hard and dry to the touch, typical of capsule-type fruits, providing protection for the seeds within. When ripe, the fruit measures approximately 0.4 to 0.8 inches (1 to 2 cm) in size. On opening, the valves release the seeds, a crucial phase in the plant's reproductive cycle.
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Scientific Classification of Japanese pittosporum
