Ralph's kōhūhū

Pittosporum ralphii | Ralph's kōhūhū

A hardy, rounded evergreen shrub or small tree, prized for its attractive foliage and resilience in various garden settings, including coastal plantings. Its large, dark green leaves feature a striking white underside, creating a dynamic contrast in the wind. From spring to summer, it produces fragrant dark red flowers that develop into large, round, decorative seedpods. Particularly suitable for shelter or hedges in dry, windy locations, it tolerates shade and is more frost-hardy than P. crassifolium. Reaching up to 5 meters at maturity with a dense, bushy habit, it's excellent for hedging, screening, or as a specimen, offering year-round interest with its contrasting foliage, fragrant flowers, and showy seedpods. Plant in well-drained soil; it's drought-tolerant once established and relatively low-maintenance.