Family Pittosporaceae.
Originating from New Zealand.
Received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
- Densely borne, bright evergreen leaves with white margins are borne on black stems.
- Tiny black/purple flowers fill the air with a sweet scent in spring/summer.
- An easy-to-grow, large shrub thriving in well-drained soil in full sun or part shade.
Pittosporum ‘Garnettii’ in Your Garden
Rich green, white-edged glossy foliage glows on black stems. Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Garnettii’ forms a compact, upright shrub or small tree, its abundant crown creating a striking contrast that brightens any garden. Its dense growth makes it one of the best variegated evergreen screening shrubs.
Hardy in southern and coastal UK gardens, it reaches 4m high and 2.5m wide in 10–20 years. In other areas, it is fairly tough if given a sheltered spot. Thriving in free-draining soil, it is drought-tolerant once established. It grows densest in full sun, shrugging off the windy maritime exposure of Norfolk and Suffolk’s coastal gardens.
Easy to grow, it is adaptable to contemporary city gardens and traditional English country planting schemes. It makes a fantastic structural plant, perfect for trimming into dense hedges or sculpted forms. Its tiny, dusky purple-black flowers waft a sweet musky scent in spring and summer.
Growing Tips for Your Variegated Kohuhu ‘Garnettii’
- Soil and Sun: Plant in any well-drained soil; full sun yields the densest, brightest foliage.
- Planting: Set in spring or autumn; summer planting requires extra attention to watering. Plunge for 20 minutes to drench the root ball before planting. Do not add compost or improvers to soil.
- Watering: Moderate; tolerates dry spells once established. Water regularly in its first summer whilst rooting out.
- Pruning: Ensure successive seasons of flowering by lightly trimming large specimen plants after flowering. Shape hedging or topiary plants in late March. Regular pruning may be at the expense of flowering.
A useful variation to Pittosporum ‘Silver Queen’, its richer green and white variegation are less silvery. It has excellent utilitarian qualities, being one of the best evergreen screening shrubs for creating shelter and privacy. Additionally, it can take centre-stage as a shaped specimen plant. Its designer colour scheme of black stems, and handsomely white-marked leaves, dusky scented flowers and scent make a bold statement.
Planting Ideas for Pittosporum ‘Garnettii’
Create a serene, shimmering, bright silver and white composition of soothing cool foliage and flowers. Plant Pittosporum ‘Silver Queen’, Rhamnus ‘Argenteovariegata’, Pinus ‘Stowe Pillar’, and Abies ‘Bizzarro’ as a tall, evergreen shining backdrop. Add Abies var. Arizonica, ‘Glauca Prostrata’, Fuchsia var. Molinae ‘Alba’ to continue the icy chill at a lower level.
Betula Jacquemontii, Exochorda ‘The Bride’, Magnolias ‘Kobus’, and stellata add white bark and bright, spectacular flowering displays. For drama at a lower level, add Nandinas domestica, ‘Firepower’, and ‘Seika’. Their white flowers combine darker, fiery leaf colours and berries. Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’ and Salvia ‘Nachtvlinder’ add even greater contrast with their dark purple colours and low mounded shapes.
