Caring for Variegated Pittosporum in a Freeze

Pittosporum tobira Variegata, commonly called variegated pittosporum by landscapers and gardeners, grows in hardiness zones 8 to 11. It grows along the coastal areas from Washington State around the circumference of the southern United States and up to the Carolinas. This woody shrub with glossy gray-green and cream-colored leaves is native to southern Japan and China. It requires some pampering in the colder climates in the United States.

Fertilizer
Pesticide
Water
Blanket, burlap, plastic or sheets
4 or 5 wooden stakes the height of the shrub
Bricks or rocks

Instructions

- 1
  Plant variegated pittosporum in an area protected from wind or cold air pockets. Plant in a well-drained location as this shrub does best in low-water conditions. Planting under a large tree or along a fence will protect variegated pittosporum in freezing weather.
- 2
  Fertilize in the spring and summer, and apply less fertilizer in the fall and winter. Variegated pittosporum needs little fertilizer in the slow-growing seasons, and you don’t want to develop new growth during the colder months. Avoid late fall or winter pruning to keep the shrubs from developing new growth.
- 3
  Control pests to keep your shrub healthy. A healthy shrub withstands the cold best.
- 4
  Water the ground around the shrub if you expect cold weather. Watered soil absorbs more solar heat and keeps the variegated pittosporum warmer at night.
- 5
  Cover this shrub with a blanket, burlap, plastic or sheets if you expect temperatures below 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Make a tepee or drive stakes in the soil around the plant. Drape the covering over the stakes and down to the ground. Place bricks around the edges. Remove the cover so the shrub can get sunlight as soon as the temperature rises.

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Shrubs