PITTOSPORUM tenui. Irene Patterson

Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Irene Paterson’ is a compact, evergreen shrub valued for its distinctive, irregular green-and-cream variegated foliage that provides year-round brightness. In late spring to early summer it produces small, dark purple-brown, sweetly scented flowers that are most noticeable in the evening. Grow in sun or light shade in a fertile, moist but well-drained soil; it tolerates chalk and light sandy soils, and benefits from a sheltered position in Ireland, including mild coastal gardens. Neat and dependable, it forms tidy evergreen structure and responds well to light clipping to maintain a compact outline.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Sun or light shade; sheltered

Rate of Growth: Slow-growing

Soil: Fertile, moist but well-drained; tolerates chalk and light sandy soils

Hardiness: Hardy (RHS H4); protect from cold, drying winds

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Plant at a Glance