The Hardiness Zone for Variegated Pittosporum

Identification

• Variegated pittosporum is a broadleaf evergreen, beloved for its oval green leaves with creamy white margins. Its springtime flowers are white and fragrant, and its leaves provide winter interest. Capable of growing to between 10 and 15 feet high, the variegated pittosporum also takes well to pruning, so you can train it to a smaller tree form or keep it a neatly clipped shrub. Because it grows rapidly, however, it is fairly high maintenance in its first few years.

Temperature Tolerance

• The variegated pittosporum is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11, though it may do better in zones 9 and above. At maximum, this means it will grow in areas where the average annual low temperature never dips below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. If you aren’t sure whether or not variegated pittosporum will do well in your area, consider basing your decisions on the assumption that the annual low temperature for the hardiness zone in which you live is actually half a zone -- or 5 degrees -- colder than it actually is, which should prevent surprises. Similarly, although the plant is quite a bit more tolerant of heat than cold, do not try to grow it further south than USDA zone 11.

Winter Dangers

• Because variegated pittosporum is a heat-loving plant, low winter temperatures can have adverse effects. Surprise freezes can kill the plant. Cold can also crack the bark, allowing fungi to infect the plant, causing galls. If you see these symptoms, prune the plant 6 inches below the infected area. For maintenance pruning, however, wait until after spring flowering; do not wait too long, however, or you will remove the following year’s growth. Always sterilize your pruning shears before use to prevent the spread of disease.

Culture

• When growing variegated pittosporum at the lower end of its hardiness range, plant in a protected location where cold winds will not lower the temperature beyond the plant’s endurance. Other than that, variegated pittosporum will tolerate both sun and shade and a range of soil types. It doesn’t do well with wet feet, so keep it away from soggy areas. Planting times are not temperature-dependent, meaning you can put variegated pittosporum in the ground at any time of year. Within its hardiness range, it is easy to find at nurseries and garden centers.