Pittosporum Viridiflorum Cheesewood

Pittosporum viridiflorum varies in size from a shrub of about 4m in height to a large forest tree of up to 30m.
Pittosporum viridiflorum cheesewood. Pittosporum viridiflorum the cheesewood is a beautiful garden tree which can be grown in sun or semi shade and can be used in forest and bush clumps as well as being used as a hedge plant. Pittosporum pitta is greek for pitch or resin and sporum seeds referring to the seed which may have a resinous coating. Pittosporum viridiflorum quickly develops a dense spreading crown and is therefore an ideal shade tree. In the southern africa pittosporum is the only genus.
Leaves have a pleasant smell when crushed. There are somewhat 9 genera of trees shrubs or vine like plants in this family with only one genus indigenous to sa. Non invasive roots a good shape scented flowers attractive seeds shiny evergreen foliage and it does not make a mess re bone meal and your choice of fertiliser. The bark is pale brown to greyish with distinctive white dots lenticels.
The leaves are usually wider above the middle dark green and glossy. A wonderfully attractive tree with a neat appearance. This family of plants belongs to the order apiales and are distributed from tropical africa to the pacific islands. Pittosporaceae pittosporum or cheesewood family.
The bark has small pits in it and is an attractive feature of this tree. Description pittosporum viridiflorum is a very hardy evergreen small to medium sized well shaped tree with glossy leaves that have a resinous smell when crushed. It also has non invasive roots and its lovely shiny evergreen foliage does not make a mess. It has glossy dark green foliage an attractive dark grey bark with horizontal markings.
Growing to a height of between 4 15 m the tree has a dense straight to rounded crown and is evergreen with glossy dark green leaves. It bears clusters of small sweetly scented cream green flowers which are followed by masses of yellow to brown capsules that split open to expose bright red sticky seeds. Pittosporum viridiflorum is one of the perfect garden trees. Two species of pittosporum occur in south africa and only pittosporum viridiflorum may be a tree.
Pittosporum viridiflorum has a somewhat aggressive root system. Viridiflorum with green flowers. Mulch well and water regularly during the first year or two for optimum growth. A cheesewood tree in full fruit clusters of bright yellow berries is a beautiful sight attracting many bird species.