karo

Pittosporum crassifolium | karo

 

A hardy native that develops into a small, densely-foliaged bush or small tree, thriving especially in coastal environments. Its glossy green leaves offer an attractive setting for sweetly scented, crimson spring flowers, which produce bird-attracting nectar and are followed by fruit/seeds. Typically reaching 10 meters tall and 4 meters wide, karo responds well to pruning and grows successfully beneath tall deciduous trees. It serves excellently for shelter, screening, hedging, as a backdrop for smaller plants, a specimen, or in revegetation efforts.

 

However, it's crucial to exercise caution and avoid planting karo outside its natural range within New Zealand. This species can outcompete slower-growing coastal plants on open cliffs, slopes, and dunes, leading to changes in the structure and composition of native plant communities in certain regions.