Variegated Pittosporum

Light Needs

Partial Shade to Full Sun

(At Least 3 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

6-8 Feet

Mature Spread

6-8 Feet

Growing Zones

9 to 10

Variegated Pittosporum also known as Variegated Japanese Mock Orange is a compact evergreen shrub with variegated foliage. Small white flowers with orange-blossom fragrance in the spring. Excellent in the shrub border, as a hedge, mass plantings and privacy screens.

Variegated Pittosporum Care 

Water weekly, or more often during periods of extreme heat, until established. Fertilize before new growth in spring. Prune during late winter to shape. Once established, this plant needs minimal watering and can handle long periods with little to no rain. The leaves add interest with a unique variegated foliage. You will notice the fantastic fragrance from the flowers right away. The Variegated Japanese Mock Orange is evergreen, meaning that the leaves stay on the plant all year round, providing year round color. There are white colored flowers that bloom during spring.

Variegated Pittosporum Spacing

For mass plantings and in the shrub border, plant 8 to 9 feet apart. For hedges and privacy screens, space 6 to 8 feet apart. Space these slightly closer together to create a hedge, perfect for borders, privacy and wind protection. Stays short and perfect as a border plant, which are perfect placed along the edge of a garden bed or path. Fantastic as a mass planting, which is a method of filling in a landscape area with flower groupings of one or more kinds of plants. This is typically done to reduce maintenance by minimizing weeds or to create drama by drawing attention to the area. Coastal exposure does not impact this plant, including salt spray, high winds, blowing sand, and excessive drainage. These look great in woodland gardens, where natural plantings incorporate large trees with lots of under planting of shade plants. By planting these into a hedge, it forms a formal privacy screen. Pollution tolerant and great in garden planters, these plants work well in urban gardens. Consider using these plants in firescaping, where the landscape has been designed and maintained to reduce fire danger. The Variegated Japanese Mock Orange typically grows 6-8 feet tall, and 6-8 feet wide. The growth habit is compact.